36o TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



and, commencing at one end, roll it until quite smooth and 

 even throughout its entire length. Next take a piece of Mintorn 

 art fabric, as long as possible, and of a little lighter green than 

 in nature, lay the covered wire upon it, and cut it of such a 

 width, and so graduated, that the edges will just join around 

 the stem when pulled tightly together. Work one edge of the 

 strip for its whole length firmly upon the wax — leaving, how- 

 ever, a small piece at the upper extremity uncovered — using 

 a piece of flat bone or ivory, and then, holding it firmly upon 

 the table, pull the strip tightly around until the edges meet 

 without leaving any bagginess in any part, and examine the 

 underneath from time to time, and, when all comes well together, 

 the edges should be worked down closely with the stem of a 

 large modelling-pin until the seam is no longer visible. Place 

 another strip now to follow the first, and this cross joint, being 

 much more difficult to hide, must be tooled with greater care. 

 When all is smoothly covered and united, roll it again upon the 

 board, supporting one end in the hand ; this will probably dull 

 its lustre, and the stem must therefore be rubbed with the 

 hand, and with a rag dipped in oil, superfluous oil being 

 removed with another rag. Any imperfections, such as slight 

 cracks, may be made up with a little very thin sheet-wax tooled 

 carefully in, and the stem finally rubbed and polished with 

 the hand and with a rag until smooth and bright as it is in 

 nature. It must be borne in mind, however, that unless the 

 foundation of common wax be made perfectly smooth and 

 even, the irregularities will show through the outer covering, 

 and spoil the shape of the whole. 



To fix the umbel upon the flower-stem, cut off, half an 

 inch below the bracts, all the wires except four outer ones, 

 which should be two and a half inches in length. Make up 

 the first half inch by folding sheet-wax around, then bind the 

 four wires longitudinally upon the uncovered portion of the 



