334 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



on the wax surface. The lower lip (marked A in the diagram) 

 is rolled and hollowed, in the same manner, but on the reverse 

 side, and omitting the tip. 



Now take some fine white sewing- silk, and stiffen it by 

 drawing many times (in front of the fire if necessary) through 

 a small piece of creamy or yellowish wax ; cut five bits of 

 fabric and roll them, with the thumb and finger, into the form 

 of anthers ; to each of these attach an end of the silk by 

 rolling, in one direction, between the thumb and finger, thus 

 winding the silk tightly once or twice around the centre, and 

 then cut off each piece of silk a little longer than the actual 

 stamens. The pistil also is made of the silk, tipped with a 

 small knob of pale green wax. Now prepare a fine wire in 

 the usual manner (see p. 3 1 6), cover the tip with wax, press 

 the pistils and stamens upon the wax tip, bind all together and 

 thicken the stem a little by folding wax around, and then fix 

 the corolla over all. Colour the outside irregularly according 

 to the natural flower, tint the anthers, and finally make the 

 calyx by winding around the base of the blossom a very narrow 

 strip of folded wax or fabric, in the upper edge of which five 

 minute teeth have been cut. 



To make an unopened bud, fold down an edge of wax 

 to the depth of about half an inch, and cut the folded strip 

 of a width corresponding to the length of the bud to be copied. 

 Prepare a wire, and wind the wax lightly around it with the 

 fold inside at the top, subsequently moulding it into shape 

 with the fingers. This may be turned into an opening bud by 

 covering it with a corolla, cut as for the open flower, but smaller, 

 and modelled so that the lips will close over each other instead 

 of curving outwards. Finish off the base, and colour as before. 



Sufficient blossoms and buds having been prepared, fix as 

 many together as there are in the natural specimen, taking care 

 to preserve the shape of each ovary. Cover a small portion of 



