154 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



head (see p. 157), the original moulds should embrace the 

 neck. Solid models of a red deer's head (Fig. 5) and of a calfs 

 head (Fig. 8) are shown on Plate VII. These were, however, 

 cast from clay models copied from the dead heads by eye and 

 measurements. 



To put the Skin upon the Model 



The plaster model having been well dried, and thereby 

 rendered so much lighter as explained before, take the skin, 

 just damp {not wet), and try it over the model, the horns 

 having been temporarily screwed upon the small block, which 

 shows through the plaster in the model. It is necessary to do 

 this before the skin can be fitted, and also to determine the 

 length of the neck and its pitch. This can be done by placing 

 a wide board or a square at the back, so that it touches the 

 hindermost points of the horns, and marking the piece of wood 

 which forms the neck at the point where the board or square 

 touches. If the neck-board be cut about an inch shorter, or 

 nearer to the head, than the point of intersection, it will be 

 sufficient, and will allow for the subsequent three-quarter-inch 

 oval block and three-quarter-inch shield on which it should be 

 finally arranged. If, however, no shield is to be used, but 

 only the neck-oval, this, of course, must be taken into con- 

 sideration. The horns, temporarily screwed to the block, 

 may now be taken off, and the neck-board sawn off to the 

 length and angle required. This being done, cut a long oval, 

 or somewhat egg-shaped, block, about six inches long, by 

 four and a half at its greatest breadth, by three-quarters 

 of an inch thick for an ordinary head. This being screwed 

 to the neck-board, the neck can be made up in the following 

 manner: — Ram the hollowed -out part of the head full and 

 tightly with rough or waste paper, and, when this is packed 

 closely, wrap more round the neck -board down to the oval 



