FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS,

32-33. Are from a golden pheasant. No. 32 is used for wing cases {Elytra} in dressing beetles, where a dark colour with a metallic gloss is required. The orange and black provides a very good imitation of the soldier beetle. Single fibres are also useful for the tails of Ephemera, &c.

34. Is from a tern or sea swallow, which has a number of hackles as well as wing feathers of a very delicate pale blue grey, decidedly suggestive of a variety of small duns. Grayling esteem this colour highly.

35. From our old favourite the starling, which, although one of the commonest, is among the most useful of birds, providing also small dark glossy hackles of fine quality.

36. Blackbird ; good alike in texture and colour for a dark coloured dun.

37. Coot or Waterhen wing ; a fine texture, and possessing just the right brownish tinge for many of the stone flies.

38. Peacock sword. Having been frequently asked what was meant by a sword, and also where the best green body herls are obtainable, we decide to illustrate this feather.

39, 40. Heron feathers, rather course in the fibre. Excepting the smaller feathers, all beautiful in colour, and the herl from a large feather makes a fine grey blue body.

41. Indian Runner duck, which, like all the other ducks, yields some very beautiful feathers.

42. Teal ; a beautiful black feather with white lines, more useful for sea trout than for brownies.

43-44. Widgeon duck (No. 43), of a rich velvety black with white edge ; makes good sedge's wings, and also Elytra for beetles. No. 44 has a strong showy marking, and is sometimes used for May-flies.

45. The brown mallard, which was at one time used for the wings of a great number of flies. The amateur may find difficulty in tying this and other duck feathers when used in sections. The best way is to cut out the desired section with a piece of quill attached, and cut this quill off after the wing is tied in position on the hook not before.

46. This is a rather expensive feather from a bustard, It is a great favourite, and a couple of fibres are very attractive as tails to almost any fly. The feathers are, unfortunately, soft, and the fibres break off short with continuous use.

47. Breast feathers from a teal ; although almost any duck will yield feathers like this.

The feathers having the finest speckle are those obtained from the Canadian Wood Duck, the Egyptian Goose, or the Indian Runner Duck.



TL
MC