284 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



under certain circumstances, nor how they will stand the test of 

 time. 



Descriptions follow of how animals should be executed by 

 either method. 



The Cuttle-Fish {Sepia) 



This creature is not a " fish " at all, but one of the higher 

 Invertebrata, and, being generally preserved in spirits, is, in 

 consequence, usually a most unsatisfactory object — as most 

 spirit preparations are, however well displayed ; in America, 

 however, according to Shufeldt, they appear, in the State 

 Museum, to have hit upon the idea of representing it, out of 

 spirits, modelled in the gelatine process (Formula 94), but, 

 so far as can be gathered from the pages of the book^ which 

 describes their methods, and which is illustrated with very fine 

 process-blocks of specimens, they nevertheless seem not to get 

 their models from a direct cast of any invertebrate, but rely 

 upon figures of such objects, from which they evolve a model 

 in the manner now described : — 



Take, for example, such an elegant reproduction of an Octopus as 

 is shown in Plate XV. (O. vulgaris). This triumph in the matter of an 

 exact model, perfectly preserved, of a large soft invertebrate animal is 

 accomplished through the use of the plaster mould and gelatine cast 

 now so successfully brought to such perfection. Under the careful 

 supervision of Mr. F. A. Lucas, whom I must thank here for the selec- 

 tion of the six specimens illustrating this department, the proper 

 specimens are first picked out from the collection or are chosen from 

 plates, and pass next in order to the most skilled modellers, casters, 

 and colourers. Of the series I here present, Mr. A. H. Baldwin has 

 made the models after the drawings of various artists which will be here- 

 inafter mentioned. After a model has been made, a mould is next 

 taken, and from it a gelatine cast is secured, which, later, is finally 

 trimmed to life and faithfully coloured to nature. Mr. J. W. ScoUick 

 is responsible for the delicate manipulation required in securing 



^ Scientific Taxidermy for Museums, pp. 389, 390, Plates XV.-XVII. 



