320 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



width corresponding to the length of the petals, and the edge 

 of each must be thinned by rolling with the head of the 

 modelling-pin on the waxed side, and then channelled or veined 

 with the head of a blanket-pin. The petal is now turned over, 

 and veined, and modelled into a somewhat concave form on the 

 fabric side, which is the upper surface of the petal. Each, if 

 not quite correct in colour, must be made so by rubbing on 

 powder-colour with one of the hard brushes (Fig. F, Plate II.), 

 and, in this connection, it is as well to remark that a number of 

 brushes of this kind are required, as each colour should have one 

 brush devoted to it. Now fix three of the petals by their base 

 to the base of the fringe of stamens, preserving fairly regular 

 intervals between them, and, as the others will come slightly 

 over them, it is as well to colour their under surfaces, before 

 proceeding further, with a faint greyish-green, but this is to be 

 of moist water-colours, applied with a camel-hair or sable pencil. 

 If the colour will not readily take upon the waxed surface, rub 

 in a very little arrowroot (professionals usually moisten with the 

 tongue, but this cannot be recommended either for flavour or 

 elegance). Fix the remainder of the petals either in threes or 

 as the natural flower dictates, and probably in the older blooms 

 the edges of the outermost petals will be found to turn back 

 towards the base. Finally, touch up with moist water-colours 

 where needed, and give the insides of the petals their shining 

 appearance by touching them with a little of Roberson's 

 medium. 



The Calyx. — The sepals are not cut separately, but the 

 calyx is cut in one piece from pale green wax backed with 

 light green fabric, first cut as a disc, of the exact size of a three- 

 penny piece for the smaller flowers, as previously described, 

 and a hole is pierced in the centre, by which it is slipped upon 

 the stem-wire. 



The Flower-stem is made of doubled green wax, worked 



