228 TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



it be very large, of wood covered with very stiff and strong 

 paper, if it be small. In the latter case there must be a 

 wooden skeleton to which the paper may be tacked. Having 

 tacked the paper on in large sheets, and duly crumpled it to 

 get the proper form of the rocky mass, give the paper a coat of 

 thick glue. When dry it will be quite stiff and strong. Now 

 apply papier-mache of a coarse quality, and model its surface 

 to show the proper angles or lines of stratification. Procure 

 some granite or sandstone, or whatever rock you choose to 

 imitate, pound it up as finely as necessary, and after giving the 

 surface of the papier-mache a coat of thick glue, apply your 

 rock material by throwing it against the surface to be covered, 

 so that the particles indent the surface and stick fast. In this 

 way the whole surface can be completely covered, and when it 

 is done with the actual material, no painting is necessary. The 

 possibilities and variations in this line are infinite, and so 

 much depends upon circumstances it is unprofitable to go fur- 

 ther into details. 



Very pretty single pieces, or small masses of rock, may be 

 made by using peat, or coke, or cork, either in large pieces or 

 smaller pieces glued together, and covering the surface with 

 fine sand mixed with various dry colors, and adding colored 

 lichens in spots here and there. 



Cloth is poor stuff to use in making rockwork. It draws in 

 straight lines, and in smooth, plain surfaces. It generally 

 shows up the wooden framework to perfection. Use manila 

 paper instead, by all means, and take great pains in shaping 

 your wooden foundation. Always avoid straight lines and 

 plain surfaces. 



