CHAPTER XIV. 



MATERIALS. 



Their Selection. Collection. Storage. 



The selection of suitable materials contributes 

 largely to the success of an artificial fly. Before any 

 material can be considered suitable for use, it should 

 be submitted to the most critical examination with 

 regard to its colour, texture, strength, and last, though 

 not the least, its durability under the very searching 

 tests to which it will be put later on. 



It is not the least use employing a delicate shade 

 of material to match some delicate insect, when such 

 material will totally alter its colour on coming in con- 

 tact with either oil or water the first time it is used. 



This is not confined to silks and textile materials, 

 some feathers being very bad in this respect. There 

 is a beautiful blue American bird called a roller, the 

 feathers of which turn a curious puce colour in the 

 water, but quite regain their lovely lustrous blue when 

 again dried, and this alteration is not confined to the 

 feathers of the roller. 



The conclusion we came to some years ago was to Silk. 

 totally discard silk as a body material, except for tying 

 or packing purposes under tinsel. It is most mortify- 



