STREAMCRAFT 



The peacock's plumes thy tackle must not fail, 



Nor the dear purchase of the sable's tail. 



Each gaudy bird some slender tribute brings 



And lends the glowing insect proper wings. 



Silks of all colors must their aid impart, 



And every fur promotes the fisher's art; 



So the gay lady with extensive care 



Borrows the pride of land, of sea, of air; 



Furs, pearls, and plumes the glittering thing displays; 



Dazzles our eyes and easy hearts betrays. 



Turkey tail-feathers, the plumes or breast- 

 and wing-feathers of the swan, domestic goose, 

 duck, and pigeon, the guinea-hen, wood duck, 

 gray and brown mallards, heron, woodcock, 

 quail, grouse or partridge, blue-jay, kingfisher, 

 seagull, and starling are mostly in demand for 

 wings. Feathers from waterfowl generally are 

 preferred, but nearly all the varieties needed are 

 obtainable from domestic hens, turkeys, pigeons, 

 and ducks. On some flies whole small breast- 

 feathers or the tips of small wing-feathers (as 

 from the sparrow) are used for wings instead of 

 strips cut out from the side web of the wing- 

 feathers; and, again, the tips of small hackle- 

 feathers are occasionally employed, especially 

 for spinners. 



For a transparent substance at once suitably 

 delicate and durable, recourse is had to the 

 scales of shad, pike, or herring, and to the split- 

 ting of certain quills, as that from the root of a 

 crow's feather, to obtain their inner membrane; 

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