290 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



In either case the moulds should be warmed ; and, this 

 having been done, and the modelling-glue (Formula 96) heated, 

 it was led with a brush into every part of the No. i piece 

 of the mould, and was made up with the brush to the required 

 thickness above and below. The next piece was then brushed 

 over in the same manner, and so on until nearly- filled. Finally, 

 the body halves were completely filled with the composition, and 

 all were rapidly put together upon a board, the whole being 

 then so tilted that the glue ran into parts not yet full. Having 

 been left for a night in a cool but dry place, the moulds were 

 removed in the inverse order to their being put together, when 

 a sharp and perfect copy appeared (see Fig. 5, Plate XVI.), in 

 which the " arms " — really feet — surrounding the mouth were 

 brought out beautifully, showing their upper surfaces with 

 membranous attachments and their under surfaces with all the 

 cusps, hollowed as they should be, exactly reproduced. 



About a pound of the mixture is required for casting such 

 an object, which will weigh, when trimmed, considerably less 

 than the original. 



The colouring, which was done from a very fresh specimen 

 sent from Plymouth for that especial purpose, is almost im- 

 possible to describe, the creature being of a whitish, pink- 

 yellowy semi-transparent nature ; the under surface, however, is 

 much whiter. Suffice it to ' say, that no conception of the 

 beautiful hues and subtle gradations of tints possessed by this 

 animal can be formed, unless a living or fresh specimen be 

 obtained. The long tentacular arms are of a dazzling china- 

 like- or vitreous whiteness, which no white pigment can, how- 

 ever, in any way interpret ; analysed, it appears to owe its 

 extreme and dazzling whiteness to the incidence of light upon a 

 bluish, semi-transj)arent, jelly-like substance, encased in a silvery 

 sheath, and the resources of the palette are taxed to the 

 utmost to gain a semblance of reality, for black, blue, pink, arid 



