128 MAKING AN ARTIFICIAL (Continued). 



when the hackles are placed in position, the paper folds 

 up and measures less than § in. in thickness when con- 

 taining over 1200 hackles. The sketch should make the 

 arrangement clear, the quill end of the feather is slipped 

 under the pasted strips which form a continuous pocket 

 from end to end. 



The enlarged section shows clearly the construction. 



The wing feathers are contained in a folder of six 

 pages with one central strip to steady them. 



The duck feathers take four pages. 



The game feathers occupy four pages with five tiers. 



Before leaving home on an excursion it is as well 

 to run over the contents and be sure that the stock 

 of any particular feather has not been depleted on a 

 previous occasion. Before placing feathers in this case 

 it as well to trim away all useless fluff and some prefer 

 to dip the feathers for wings in a very thin solution of 

 best carriage varnish in acetone, this prevents the wings 

 from splitting so easily both when tied on the hook 

 and also in use, by proofing them it also aids their float- 

 ing capacity. After carefully dipping them and laying 

 them out to dry in a warm room for 24 hours, the closest 

 scrutiny is necessary to see they have been so treated, 

 but the fibres hang together much more tenaciously 

 as a result. 



