270 TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



in the space thus left, up to the median line of the fish, but no 

 higher. 



With a knife work the plaster under the edge of the fish, and 

 let it Harden ; thsn put two countersinks in each side. For the 

 main piece, mi:: some dry color in enough plaster to coat the 

 fish one-eighth of an inch thick, make it thin, and pour over 

 with a spoon. When covered thinly, blow hard upon it, all 

 over, to make it take the scales sharply ; then put on enough 

 more to make the colored coat an eighth of an inch thick. Let 

 this harden, then put on the thick coat of wiiite plaster, which 

 is to be chiseled off, as this is supposed to be a waste mould. 

 In making the cast, if it be possible make it before the mould 

 gets dry, so that the latter will chisel off easily. Pour the 

 mould nearly full of plaster, then set a piece of wood in at the 

 back to afford a means of screwing the cast to a panel, or in- 

 serting standards. After the cast is made it must, of course, 

 be carefully painted, which is another matter, and is treated 

 elsewhere. 



CASTING REPTILES. After all the detailed directions that have 

 been already given on this subject it is not necessary to speak 

 further of methods. Mr. Joseph Palmer, of the National Mu- 

 seum, has produced suoh pleasing and artistic representations 

 of reptiles of all sorts, especially serpents and tortoises, it would 

 seem that perfection in this line has been reached. His ser- 

 pents are all on imitation rocks, trees, or earth, and in about all 

 the attitudes they would assume in life. They are represented 

 as crawling, sleeping, fighting, striking, and threatening. By 

 the introduction of wires in the moulds while making the casts, 

 they are made to act quite naturally. Of course they have 

 besn carefully and artistically painted, and half the credit for 

 their beauty is therefore due to the colorist. Lizards of many 

 species, large and small, and also tortoises and turtles of every 

 American species, are thus represented with great success. 

 This interesting collection is well worthy of study ; but to the 

 taxidermist who is not also a first-rate artist in oil colors, tliis 

 method is beyond his powers. 



