338 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



whiter, and the tiny petals having become of a rich russet hue ; 

 at this stage also, the florets of the ray (popularly known as 

 " petals "), instead of standing out stiffly as in the newer flowers, 

 become curled and twisted, and the entire flower presents an 

 irregular and ragged appearance. Yet a little later stage, and 

 the florets have all disappeared, and have been replaced by a 

 tuft of silky hairs called pappus. It is obvious, therefore, that 

 these various aspects must be reproduced by various methods, 

 and that, unless they are, each and all, reproduced, the modelled 

 plant, when finished, will lack that variety which is so great 

 a charm. 



Commenciiig with a newly-opened flower, the disc may be 

 imitated, like that of the daisy (p. 344), by turning over one 

 edge of a narrow strip of yellow wax, winding the strip, folded 

 edge uppermost, around the prepared end of a suitable wire, 

 and pressing it, in front of a fire or stove, through a piece of 

 the finest white net. In this case, the base of the flower within 

 the involucre {i.e. that part answering in some other flowers to 

 the calyx) must be made up afterwards by folding a strip of 

 wax around the wire, and moulding it with the fingers to the 

 natural shape. 



To represent the next stage — a centre surrounded by open 

 florets — take fine white sewing-cotton, cut off" an inch or more, 

 double it, and twist loosely to form a small loop ; dip the 

 loop into hot wax tinted with aurora yellow tube oil-colour, 

 and, when set, take a very little dry lemon yellow (deep) upon 

 the finger " and roll the tip lightly, and the result will (or 

 should) be an exact imitation of the florets or " buds " in the 

 centre of the disc. Make a sufficient number of these, fix them 

 around the prepared end of a suitable wire, and then proceed 

 to make the outer florets thus : Take a strip of the thinnest art 

 fabric, as nearly of the natural colour as may be, and cut it 

 along one edge as shown by Fig. i , afterwards cutting from this 



