THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



183 



clays. Tlie skin was afterwards plaeod 

 in a tank of brine until ready to mount. 

 The body was placed in the position that 

 had been decided upon for the tinisiicd 

 exhibit, and a mould made of plaster-of- 

 paris— in this case a two-piece mould. 

 When this had set the body was taken 

 out of the mould and the latter allowed 

 to thoroughly dry, after which a coat of 

 shellac was placed on its inside surface. 



The papier mache, consisting- of flour 

 paste, wood-wool, and plaster-of-paris, 

 was then prepared. The paste and wood- 

 wool were first mixed together, and, as 

 required, the plaster-of-paris kneaded 

 into the mixture. When thoroughly mix- 

 ed, but left moist enough to be easily 

 worked, it was pressed into the mould 

 to a thickness of about 1^ inches; so 

 that the manikin would be light, the 

 mould was not filled up. 



The papier mache having set and be- 

 come quite hard, the mould was removed, 

 the manikin being ready for the skin to 

 be placed over it. Before this could be 

 done, however, the skin had to be pared 

 down, this making it easier to work and 

 causing it to fit snugly over the manikin. 

 This was done by placing the skin over 

 a board prepared for the purpose. Suf- 

 ficient of the tissue having been pared 

 off, the skin was then placed in clean 

 water to soak out the salt and alum, the 

 removal of which was necessary, as the 

 salt in damp weather would absorb 

 moisture and affect the hair. 



The placing of the skin on the mani- 

 kin was a difficult and tedious task, re- 

 quiring an unbroken sitting of nearly 

 fifteen hours. Tlie work had to be com- 

 pleted in one sitting, as the skin must 

 not be allowed to dry. 



llie skin having been placed in po.=!i- 

 tion and sewn up, the preparator's at- 

 tention was then turned to the still more 



Paring the skin. 



Photo. — G. C. Glutton. 



difficult and tedious task of getting the 

 correct facial expression. Photographs 

 of the animal were used, and the owner, 

 Mr. Parsons, gave invaluable assistance 

 in helping to perfect this part of the 

 work. When the wrinkles were made 

 they were kept in place by the u.se of 

 pins, and not removed till the skin was 

 dry and set, this taking a considerable 

 time. The eyes, of course, were fixed in 

 place at the same time. 



And now "Belmont British" rests on 

 his polished stand, looking just tis he 

 looked in real life— "A Perfect Beauty." 



A Useful Publication. A third edi- 

 tion of the "Guide to the Australian 

 Ethnological Collection in the National 

 Museum of Victoria," by Sir Baldwin 

 Spencer, K.C.M.G.. F.R.S., Honorary 



Director, has Just been issued. This 

 guide w'hich is well illustrated, is a 

 valuable contribution to the literature of 

 the Australian aborigines, and a most 

 useful work for museum purposes. 



