322 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



usual, in warm water, and press upon it a very thin sheet of 

 rather olive-green wax, on which, when the first shows sufficient 

 definition, press another thin sheet ; the reason for this being 

 that one sheet of thick wax will never show such delicate vein- 

 ings in the same manner as one thin one followed by another 

 will do. Upon this double wax lay, in the proper position, a 

 thin but nicely-covered rib, long enough to form the stalk as 

 well. Next take a piece of green fabric, as nearly of the colour 

 of the underside of the leaf as may be, and cut a slit in its lower 

 part where the rib leaves the leaf and goes to form the stem, 

 which, in this particular leaf and in those of the marsh mari- 

 gold, violet, ivy, and many other heart-shaped or ovate leaves, 

 is at about two-thirds of its length, or in the cleft of the heart. 

 Press the fabric well upon the wax, taking care, whilst pressing 

 close to the rib on both sides, not to press upon it, as this 

 would be likely not only to flatten the rib, but to force it from 

 its position, and also to split the wax underneath. When 

 properly pressed and united, remove the leaf from the mould 

 and trim it with the small scissors to the irregular edge shown 

 by the pressure upon the mould ; this edge will, however, be 

 rather too thick, and must be thinned by rolling it gently upon 

 the finger with the head of a modelling-pin, curling it afterwards 

 with the fingers if at all straightened by this process. Next 

 double a piece of green wax, cut a long wedge-shaped strip as 

 directed for the flower-stalk, and roll it loosely upon the covered 

 wire, gradually broadening it as it nears the base ; at this 

 part, however, the stalk becomes whiter, especially at the back, 

 and the best way to imitate this is to roll around it a small 

 wedge of very thin white wax and tool it well into the green, 

 which shows through the white, and gives the transparent effect 

 of nature. The stem, being rounded at the back and flattened 

 or hollowed in front, is nicely tooled with the stem of the 

 modelling-pin. Finally, colour to nature by rubbing in powder- 



