Guide to Taxidermy 227 



a couple of varieties of small ferns and some small 

 oak, maple and elm leaves, and perhaps a few 

 aquatic leaves it will answer most requirements that 

 you will have for artificial' foliage. Leaves, ferns 

 and grasses can be made out of heavy, starched 

 cloth such as is used for window curtains; cut 

 pieces the exact shape and size you wish the leaves ; 

 glue a piece of No. 26 wire the whole length on the 

 back of the leaf and let it extend beyond to form a 

 stem; wax the leaf and the wire on the back of it; 

 by laying the leaf on a soft board you can make 

 the proper creases and veins with a wire or stick; 

 you must now paint the leaf its natural color ; after 

 having been fastened to the branch the wire must 

 also be waxed and painted. 



Natural Leaves. — Some kinds of leaves can be 

 preserved for case decoration by drying them in a 

 box of sand and painting them their natural colors. 

 These will be very fragile and should not be used 

 except under glass. Dried grasses and rushes, when 

 properly colored make excellent case decorations. 



Moss. — Lichens and tree mosses of all kinds dry 

 well and can be used either dead color or dyed pale 

 green. Your supply dealer will probably have 

 French moss and dyed lace moss for sale. 



For case decoration it is well to always have on 



