the boxes have been crumpled into the required 
shapes, join up the valleys, etc., by glueing on strips 
of papier maché or cotton wool. When dry, paint the 
whole with a liberal coating of hot glue and Plaster 
of Paris mixed to the consistency of thick cream, 
and finally cover with fine dry sand. Any sand not 
absorbed by the glue is afterwards thrown off, and 
the rockwork coloured with oil paint well thinned 
with turpentine. Any parts intended to look wet 
should be varnished. 
Peat is sometimes used for rockmaking, on 
account of its rigid nature and the ease with which it 
can be moulded; but there is always a danger in in- 
troducing it owing to the possibility of its contain- 
ing insect life. It is nailed down, carved into the 
required shape, and then covered with plaster, etc., 
as above. 
When making the rockwork it is a good plan to 
have a rough sketch at hand to work by, and to 
commence at the spot where it is intended to fix the 
specimen. 
In cases where branches are used, they should 
be well dried, and afterwards painted with turpen- 
tine in order to destroy any insect life they may con- 
tain. If the turpentine is tinged with green the 
appearance of the branches is improved. 
Ferns, grasses, lichens, etc., may be introduced 
where appropriate. They should be dried and then 
coloured with oil paint. 
Seaweeds must be well washed and afterwards 
varnished if intended to look wet. 
When the rockwork is finished, with the bird or 
38 
