234 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



wedge up with putty, or add other pieces of board, thinner or 

 thicker as the case demands, and, in fishes with a long dorsal 

 fin, a piece of wood sufficiently long and broad to save a join 

 must be used. All boards must be wetted or oiled, and the 

 reason for using boards instead of glass, slate, or cardboard is 

 that, as the fins, especially the tail, often float up as the thin 

 plaster goes over them — thus locking or spoiling them, — their 

 being arranged on boards allows one or two fine entomological 

 pins, with their heads cut off, to be used to keep them down. 

 When the pins are driven in — one at each outer edge of the 

 fins will often be quite sufficient — they must be cut quite close 

 down on the fins, so that they will draw easily through the fins 

 when the fish is turned over and the boards are removed. Keep 

 the fish and its fins damp by applying water, or glycerin and 

 water, with a soft brush, and remove all specks of dirt or putty 

 from its surface. 



At this stage, it must be decided whether the pectoral, and 

 sometimes the ventral, fin is to be raised or allowed to lie flat 

 upon the fish ; if the latter, nothing need be done further than 

 to see that it does lie flat. If the former, however, the fin 

 must be raised and held up with the fingers until the first cast 

 or so sets it in the position required, and, if the fish be not 

 very thick, the greater part of it will be above and outside the 

 mould when the fish is cast, and will pull out, leaving a hole 

 in the mould when finished. 



All being ready, build the wooden walls, as detailed at 

 p. 231, or the zinc walls (see pp. 341, 342) if the fish be small, 

 and stop crevices with putty ; damp the fish as before, and pour 

 in the plaster carefully, a thin skin at first, and so on as for other 

 delicate objects. When dry, remove the walls, turn the half 

 mould, with the fish in it, upside down, and remove the 

 boards and putty. 



If all has been done as it should be, the under half of the 



