CASTING FROM A TIGER 129 



animal's left side) being flat on those underneath, so that, 

 although the limbs were parted on their plane, there was no 

 separation between those above and below. Accordingly, 

 each of the uppermost limbs, or those of the left side, was 

 raised from its fellow, and propped into position by a stage of 

 one-inch board raised to the necessary height by blocks placed 

 underneath, but in such a manner as not to interfere with a 

 clear view of the inside of the underneath limbs or those 

 of the right side. The proposed attitude of the animal 

 demanding a wide separation of the feet, the slope of the 

 supporting board was higher at its outer edge. The body was 

 now propped from the back into the necessary curves until 

 it assumed the form shown in Plate VI. At the neck, which 

 was brought forward and high to the left front, in order to get 

 the necessary pose for the head, the staging was very much 

 higher than anywhere else. The fore limbs were supported 

 widely apart to show the chest and muscles. In doing this, 

 care was taken not to hide from view, nor enclose, the under- 

 neath or right fore limb. The arrangement of the animal's 

 carcase and consequent blocking of the supports took two 

 men nearly a day. The carcase now showed the whole of its 

 left upper surface, and the inner surface of the right limbs. 

 These latter were surrounded by a wall of common fire-clay, 

 about three inches high, and about one and a half inches from 

 the edges of the limbs. Into the tray thus formed, plaster 

 was poured, being made up to a thickness of about two inches 

 over the flesh, and extending to the median line of the belly. 



The plaster now covering the under limbs was used as the 

 base for the further support, by props, of the upper limbs lying 

 upon boards wide enough to take them. These being sur- 

 rounded, as also the body, by boards and clay, were covered 

 with plaster as before, and left for a night. The position of 

 affairs at this stage was, that the whole of the top side of 



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