THE CASTING OF A SEPIA 287 



just below the string, extending from the zinc sides up to each 

 side of the specimen at the springing of the arms, but not 

 extending across the specimen. Thus a square box was formed, 

 of wood at the top, zinc at each side, and clay at the bottom, 

 which enclosed the two tentacular arms and the two dorsal ones, 

 and extended up to the mouth. Plaster, mixed in the usual 

 manner, was carefully poured on, a little at a time, until it 

 covered the four under arms, and came over the mouth, and 

 up to the underneath of the six dorsal arms still upheld by 

 the string. As soon as this happened, the string was cut and 

 the six arms rested upon the surface of the plaster, into which, 

 being fairly liquid, they were rapidly arranged and pressed, and 

 any plaster which overran their upper surfaces was immedi- 

 ately scraped off with the modelling-tool, and the arms finally 

 washed clean with water and a soft brush. 



When the plaster had set, the walls were removed, disclosing 

 the first square as a sufficiently thick block, whose upper surface, 

 having had " keys " cut in it a little beyond and outside the 

 arms (or rather feet), was oiled, as was also the square edge 

 whence the clay had been removed. 



No. 2 was arranged to take in the exposed upper surfaces 

 of the six dorsal arms, and the head, and eyes, and " neck," up 

 to the body. First, therefore, zinc walls followed within the 

 line of those of No. i, and one crossed its upper surface beyond 

 the keys, and, to complete the square, clay walls extended to 

 some height from the lower ends of the side walls to touch 

 the junction of the body and the "neck," rising at that 

 part, coming on to the body or "mantle," and following its 

 sigmoid curve, leaving the edge exactly true with the 

 surmounting clay wall. A floor of clay was laid within the 

 square to prevent the liquid plaster from running underneath 

 the head, etc., to the ventral surface ; hence it will be seen 

 that, when the plaster was poured on and filled up the 



