PARROTS AND OTHER POULTRY. 31 



most useful are hares, squirrels, moles, martens, 

 mice, and water-rats. 



The most esteemed hackles are the duns. The 

 red, striped down the centre with black, and the 

 red with a blackish root, are likewise useful, and 

 more easily obtained. Since the introduction of 

 Spanish poultry (by which name are designated the 

 black breed with white tops), black hackles are now 

 more common than formerly. The proper time for 

 plucking hackles is about Christmas. The feathers 

 of the ostrich and peacock are of frequent service ; 

 and for salmon and sea-trout the gaudy plumes of 

 parrots and other brilliantly attired foreign species, 

 however unlike the adornment of any known insects, 

 ought to be collected by every fly-fisher. 



The silks commonly used by the angler are of 

 three kinds : 1st, Barbers 1 silk, used double, for 

 splicing the top-pieces of rods ; 2<%, a more deli- 

 cate kind, for fastening on the rings through which 

 the reel-line runs ; Sdly, fine netting silk for whip- 

 ping hooks and dressing flies. When we mention 

 a pair of small pliers, fine-pointed scissors, needles, 

 and wax, we have noted the principal materials for 

 the angler's trade. 



In regard to rods, their length and formation are 

 so much matters of individual taste, that few gene- 

 ral rules can be laid down upon the subject. Ac- 

 cording to Daniel, the wood should be cut about 

 Christmas, and allowed to season for a twelvemonth . 

 Hazel is very generally used, especially that from 

 the cob-nut, which grows to a great length, and is 

 for the most part very straight and taper. The 



