This substitute has been made by putting dabs of paint on black hackle feathers;




This bird is now protected in its native jungles. A fair number are bred in captivity, but there is still some illegal traffic. A CITES certificate is required for these bird skins. The one below is partly used. I still have a few of these skins, and I do use the feathers now and again especially for some seatrout flies.



TL
MC