MATERIALS. 99 



shops, though the sword feathers are difficult to obtahi, 

 except at tackle shops. 



Condor feathers may be bought at the milliners, Quills. 

 where they are known as " Eagle quills," but the 

 supply depends, to a large extent, on the caprice of 

 fashion, and as ladies wear feathers more in winter 

 than summer, they are often unobtainable in the latter 

 season, excepting wholesale from the warehouses. 



First quality feathers range from two shillings to Condor 

 half-a-crown each, but it is not necessary to go to this Quills. 

 price, as there are usually second and third quality 

 feathers to be had, which are either locally damaged 

 or have some of the herl frayed off. These are equally 

 good from the fly dresser's point of view, and are 

 obtainable at half price. 



Raffia grass is to be had from almost any nursery- Raffia. 

 man or florist, and is used by them to tie up growing 

 plants. A few coppers will procure an abundant 

 supply, which raay then be dyed as required. 



Cocoa fibre is also useful as a body material ; it Cocoa 

 may be obtained from the makers of matting, or a new F^^^^^- 

 door-mat will yield a supply on occasion. 



The various feathers used for wings can be Wing 

 obtained from the poulterer and game dealer. The Feathers. 

 gamekeeper is also usually able to supply magpie, jay, 

 various hawks, owls, and so forth, and should these 

 sources fail, ordinary varieties may be obtained at 

 cheap rates from regular dealers, in fact, it is often 

 more satisfactory to procure them through the ordinary 

 channels of trade than from outside sources, where an 



