386 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



staining them in tints of common powder-colours (see list at 

 pp. 90-92) well thinned with linseed-oil and turpentine, or with 

 turpentine alone, and in some cases, where a little more body- 

 is required, by adding flake white and a little varnish. 



In some instances, the finished colouring — if not done by 

 tube-colours — is to be executed by thin washes of colour in 

 turpentine (or benzoline, which is even a better " flatter," but 

 trying to the lungs and dangerous to use at night), and all 

 finishing must be done with the original, if possible, as a model. 



No definite instructions for colouring can be given, but as 

 a slight guide it may be stated that, if the rock represents a 

 certain sandstone, the most prominent parts may be very 

 lightly stained with a pale pinkish yellow only just past white, 

 the hollows with blue black or ivory black and Vandyke, and, 

 when dry, the tops and edges, where lichens would grow, 

 touched up with tube colours as greys and greens, perhaps a 

 little gold here and there, and the hollows and some other 

 parts just floated over again (" glazed ") with greenish ; but the 

 great thing is to copy the hues and tints of the rock itself, 

 and sometimes another piece must be procured, as the over- 

 modelling or casting from the original piece may have taken 

 away some of its ancient surface colour. 



If, however, the rocks are smooth, they must not be glued 

 nor sanded when dried, but brushed over with — 



101. — Preparation for Eockwork 



Powdered whiting . . . .1 part 



Plaster of Paris . . . . i „ 



Sufficient thin flour-paste and water to make the above into a paint. 



Any hue or tint in common dry powder-colours may be 

 used as a ground for the darker rocks, but usually a white 

 underground, as in a canvas, gives greater brilliancy and purity 

 of colouring. The whiting has a slight tendency to show a 



