412 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



sizes and shapes by a turn-table and diamond. These are the 

 three varieties of " rounds " usually to be seen, but there are 

 "sprung" ovals and squares. All, however, have the same 

 principle underlying their construction ; they are intended to 

 possess a wooden back, which retains the glass and allows the 

 mount to be hung by a ring upon a wall. They have the 

 advantage of appearing light and pretty in a room, but are 

 not, unless square, of utility in a museum. 



A few words of caution are necessary : the backs in the 

 round varieties being usually of wood with a groove' turned 

 in them to receive the glass, this should be calculated so that 

 the greatest width is outside the glass, as there is a constant 

 danger of it tumbling out unless securely fastened. If fastened 

 with putty, glue, glued strips, white lead, red lead, plaster of 

 Paris, or, indeed, any material which sets hard and unyielding, 

 there is a certainty of the glass cracking, sooner or later, by 

 changes of temperature affecting the wood or the holding 

 material, and accordingly the best plan has been found to cut 

 small pieces of cork the size of the groove outside the glass, 

 glue them at bottom, and press them tightly into the groove 

 when the glass rim is within it, and over all to paste strips 

 of strong paper, well fitted over the pieces of cork into 

 the groove, and coming a little way up the glass. This, 

 when dry, securely holds the glass in its groove, and prevents 

 subsequent breakages. Haifa dozen small pieces of cork will 

 usually be sufficient, and if the groove be shallow and the 

 paper should rise above and show on the inside, black, grey, or 

 gilt paper must be pasted first around the bottom of the glass 

 rim, coloured surface to show inside the glass, and then the brown 

 paper, coming afterwards outside that, does not show through. 

 Another advantage which papering-in possesses over putty or 

 anything else containing oil is, that the backs may be coloured 

 -in oil or distemper, without any grease appearing over the 



