MATERIALS FOE FLY-DRESSING. 121 



into a small handle,) for dividing wings and picking out 

 dubbing. 



The materials used by the fly-dresser of the present day 

 are somewhat more simple than was formerly thought pos- 

 sible — shape being more attended to and variety of material 

 less. Feathers of various kinds are not only the most suitable 

 but last longer than almost any other substance that has 

 been employed for the purpose, and they are supplemented 

 with fine hair and silk. In selecting feathers, great care 

 is necessaiy, and they should be plucked from birds when 

 ia full plumage, and every description of bird may be laid 

 under contribution for this purpose. Hackles taken from 

 the neck of the common cock are very useful when of a 

 proper colour and shape. The fibres should taper gradu- 

 ally from the rootj and where they should be longest, to- 

 wards the point. The dun or blue hackle is particularly 

 difficult to obtain of the right colour, with the' fibres of the 

 proper length, which is about half an inch. The feathers 

 of the cock-starling have a high repute in the north, as 

 combining good colour with that medium strength which 

 avoids harshness on the one hand, and softness on the 

 other. Feathers of the landrail are also highly esteemed, 

 taken from outside the vring, being of a reddish-brown 

 colour. The dotterel feathers are also useful, but apt to 

 get soft in the water. The gray-plover, golden-plover, 

 thrush, partridge, grouse, woodcock, and snipe, are com- 

 monly used. Even a tomtit's tail does not escape, while 

 the peacock and ostrich tails, or single fibres of their 

 plumes, are in common use, when dyed, for bright and 

 variously-coloured flies. The wings of the flies are made 

 from the wing-feathers of the corn-bunting, lark, starling, 

 shaffinch, woodcock, landrail, and other birds. 



