THE MODELLING OF A TIGER 135 



then dropping the latter through holes in a piece of f " board, 

 about three to four inches wide, and finally screwing up 

 the other nuts, with washers, to bite. Then, by means of 

 props and stays of half- inch stuff, it was nailed into the 

 position required on a platform of f" boards large enough to 

 take the whole. The other side, having been fixed in the same 

 manner as the first, was brought up by supports and stays of 

 thin board to the side of the other until the edges touched 

 equally. By cutting slits in the sides in certain positions, 

 screws were introduced from one body-board to the other, and 

 the two halves were brought closely together by this means. 

 Glue was then run along, and into, the edges, and finally muslin 

 or thin calico was glued along the seams of the body and legs, 

 forming all into one piece. The next morning, the whole of 

 the model was whitewashed with a mixture of glue-water and 

 whiting, which had the effect of making a solid, plaster-like 

 looking model, on which any imperfections could be easily 

 detected and remedied (see Plate V.). 



In a few days, when quite dry, a coat or two of oil-paint, 

 etc., was given, and allowed to dry, in order to prevent the 

 wet skin, when laid on, from damping the paper model and 

 putting it out of shape. 



The next process was getting the skin on over the model. 

 The head having been got upon the neck-rods, by pushing the 

 latter up into the hole left in the brain-cavity for that purpose, 

 a few stitches were made, bringing the skin together at various 

 places to try how it fitted. To assist the coming-together of 

 the edges, a pair of carpet-stretching pliers (a most valuable 

 tool for stretching skins) was used, and, the " trying-on " of the 

 tiger's jacket being satisfactory, the sewing-up was commenced 

 in earnest, beginning at the tail end, the reason being that this 

 part was sure to be right, but that, if there were any loose skin 

 left, it might be wanted, or could be easily disposed of, at the 



