258 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



to a board, has two advantages. One is, that the weight of the 

 mount (a canvas-covered and coloured board) would be about 

 dt\ lbs., which, added to the original weight of i lb. 6 oz., is 

 about 2 lbs. in excess of the completed model when simply 

 backed and arranged in the keyhole method ; the other being 

 that those models not on mounts take up less space. Still, it 

 must be conceded that not only is a model, when mounted, of 

 handsomer appearance, but there is space on the mount, under 

 the model, to affix a label with the necessary information. 



To Colour the Model 



For this purpose, a fresh fish of the same species should 

 always be procured ; notes and sketches may help, but they 

 are at best but extraneous aids, and, missing the greys and 

 nuances of colouring, must always result in disappointment when 

 compared with a fresh fish. In this case the fresh fish, well 

 washed, was placed on a sloping board in front of the artist, 

 and the model, also laid upon a board just underneath it, was 

 then brushed over with a full body of linseed-oil, afterwards 

 wiped dry, and the following tube oil-colours, etc., were used 

 and laid on by artists' large, flat, hog -hair brushes : — 



Ivory Black Caledonian Brown 



Vandyke Brown Aureolin 



Permanent Blue Terra Verte 



Purple Madder Flake White 



Vermilion Roberson's Medium 



The two latter, well blended by the palette knife, formed 

 the base with which the colours were mixed by the brushes 

 used. The colours thus mixed to the tints desired, were laid on 

 rapidly and with a " full brush," and, when the general hue 

 and tone were achieved, the characteristic markings of the 

 body, head, and fins were blotched and stippled on, whilst the 



