MOULDS AND MODELS OF METAL, ETC. 281 



colouring). Two toes only stuck, they having been floated up 

 by plaster getting underneath ; " floated up " meaning, of course, 

 buried when the creature was stomach upwards, careful digging 

 with a modelling-tool soon freed these toes, and the mould was 

 placed upon the stove to dry. It was afterwards found, when 

 casting another of the same species, that it was quite unneces- 

 sary, and indeed objectionable, to cast the animal in halves, and 

 that, when cast in one piece, the best compositions relieved easily 

 from the mould. 



Very fine models were made in the Leicester Museum with 

 white gutta-percha, which was soaked in hot water and pressed 

 firmly into moulds, and although, by certain technical manipula- 

 tion which need not be entered into here, they came out ex- 

 ceedingly sharp and with a good surface for the reception of 

 colour, yet that very colouring was the cause of their becoming 

 brittle in a short time and breaking into pieces, — manufactured 

 gutta-percha, like indiarubber — which was also tried, — having 

 a certain impatience of oil or grease of any kind, although it 

 must be stated that some gutta-perchas and indiarubbers were 

 found to withstand this better than others, and there is one 

 modelled fish — a chub of 5 lbs. — which still remains intact after 

 some years, due, probably, to its enclosure under glass. 



DIVISION V 



MOULDS AND MODELS OF METAL, ETC. 



Should the zoological artist feel impelled to perpetuate 

 some fine piece of modelling in imperishable metal, he will not 

 find directions for executing such work under this heading, 

 which only deals with one method connected with the taking of 

 clichh in fusible metal or foil, which does not require the aid of 

 the foundryman or electro-plater to bring to a successful issue. 



