376 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



up any further imperfections by the paper pulp, or by a little 

 uncoloured modelling-wax (see Formula 73), which, if it shows, 

 or indeed in any case, should be covered with small strips of 

 pasted tissue-paper, which do not take out any of the under- 

 lying details if carefully managed, and effectually hide all im- 

 perfections. If cleverly done, the join should not be apparent 

 even by close scrutiny, and the yellow " cap " paper, showing 

 through the tissue, gives so close an imitation of the texture 

 and colour of some dryish-looking fungi that but a very little 

 colouring is necessary to perfect them. 



When, however, the extreme base of the stalk is bulbous 

 and to be shown thus closed, some wadding or tissue-paper 

 must be smeared with paste and put into each half to fill up ; 

 the edges must be smeared and united by tissue-paper, and 

 made up, when dry, as before described. If necessary, glue 

 may be used in certain contingencies to close the edges, but 

 pasted paper or wadding is better. Glue is often preferable, 

 however, to unite the stalk to the pileus or cap, and in heavy 

 specimens it is advisable to introduce into the hollow stem a 

 piece of soft wood on to which the cap is glued, a pin being 

 driven through to hold all in place. For small, delicate fungi, 

 and for larger ones showing much detail, the best medium in 

 which to execute them is the pulp (Formula 93), which works 

 and joins easily, and can be backed with muslin as usual. 



The more fleshy fungi are often best executed in one of the 

 glue-compositions (Formula g6 or 97 being admirably adapted 

 for this purpose), and, when well managed, make beautiful 

 objects. For very many of the self-coloured forms, such as 

 the reds, oranges, and greens, the composition should be 

 coloured by stirring in a little of the tube oil-colour most nearly 

 approaching the ground-colour of the natural specimen, and 

 the models can be tinted afterwards where required. The 

 practice in the Leicester Museum has been to brush the hot 



