Feathers are now dyed almost entirely with coal tar or aniline colours, these being-very brilliant. Although most of them fade, some stand exposure to light extremely well. Previous to dyeing, all feathers should be soaked in a hot bath containing a moderate quantity of Castile soap, followed by a second bath of washing soda or carbonate of ammonia; these remove all grease and soften the feathers so that the dyes penetrate better. It is difficult to advise with regard to colours; experiment with the recipes that are given below. Cardinal: Boil 1 lb. of ground cochineal in 1 gal. of water, filter, and. while hot, steep the feathers for one hour; remove, add to the bath 2 1/2 fl. oz. of tin solution, replace the feathers, and keep the bath hot for several hours. To prepare the tin solution, dissolve 8 oz. of tin in 6 oz. of hydrochloric acid and 3oz. of nitric acid. For indigo, boil for half an hour in a bath containing 4 oz.alum, 2oz. argol, and l 1/4 oz. extract of indigo; run off half the bath, add infusion of 6 oz. to 9 oz. logwood chips previously made, and re-dye at a lower temperature (1220 F.). Madder might be tried alone; it is. however, used principally in cotton dyeing, and the operation is a very complicated one.

For saffron, use a tin mordant followed by an infusion of saffron. The latter substance is much too expensive to use for commercial dyeing. Turmeric in powder must be dissolved in. methylated spirit, and the solution filtered; the feathers are then dipped in, removed, and dried.