160 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



PAPERING AND TINTING CASES. 



The surface to be papered, must be dressed with sand- 

 paper folded over a flat piece of board or cork. Any un- 

 evenness in the wood is thus corrected. It is essential 

 that the surface be even, otherwise the coloring will set 

 in clouds, and the effect be lost. 



Select good quality of white paper without gloss finish, 

 and cut it in the required dimensions. Give the wood a 

 liberal coat of paste well worked in. Paste one side of 

 the paper, and attach it evenly to the top of the case. 

 The case should lean slightly forward, so that the paper 

 will hang clear. Lay the paper with a fine brush-broom 

 or clothes-brush, and smooth with the hand. ■ If any blis- 

 ters appear, perforate them with a pin, so that the air 

 may escape from underneath. The backs of oval and 

 square shades may be papered and colored with pleasing 

 effect. 



In papering circular wood backs of hanging shades, the 

 moisture often causes the wood to warp. The backs can 

 be brought back m shape by wetting the hollow side of 

 the back. 



The appearance of cases may be greatly improved by 

 using warmly-colored tints m the back-ground. For a 

 case of eggs, insects, crustaceans, shells, ferns, or flowers, 

 a pale blue is effective. 



A case containing rock-work with trees, animals, or 

 birds, should be tinted in several colors. A sunset effect 

 can be produced by arranging blue at the top, yellow in 

 the middle, vermilion at the bottom, and carefully blend- 

 ing these colors. The paper should be thoroughly dried 

 before tinting. The colors should all be mixed at the 

 same time in separate vessels, so that they can be blended. 



