98 MATERIALS. 



tail and body feathers are also employed in some 

 instances. 



The copying" of a dun's wing with a piece of feather 

 is at best a very poor imitation, but, in practice, the 

 best material found so far ; quills and scales are too 

 hard, and make the fly twist, both whilst being cast 

 through the air and also in the water ; this quickly 

 breaks even the best gut casts. 



We may later, possibly, find a better material than 

 feather, but at present it is certainly the one to which 

 the fewest objections can be raised. 



Small The fault most fly dressers make is in using the 



Birds feathers from too large birds, whereas excellent ones 



may be had from almost any of the common small 

 Wings. . •' ' 



birds. 



The obtaininor of a orood collection of materials is a 

 work of time, as the items used are varied, and not all 

 available at the same time or season. 



Poultry The various poultry hackles are best obtained as 



Hackles, heads and necks from the poulterer, the winter months 



usually providing the best feathers, when the birds are 



not moulting. 

 Scalps. After the scalp and neck are taken off, the skin 



should be carefully scraped clean, then skin and 



feathers well washed with carbolic soap and water, 



before being pinned out to dry. 



Mohair. Mohair may be had from some local dealers, or 



from Bradford, cleaned all ready for dyeing. Peacock 

 feathers might, until recently, be had at many fancy 



