154 PRACTICAIi TAXIDERMY. 



still preserve a certain shallow imprint of tlieir original fonai. 

 Now mix your soft soap with a brush until it becomes a stiff 

 lather, and paint it all over the face and hair oi the head ; build 

 up a wall of thin board around the clay — in the manner 

 described in Chapter YIII. on Fish Casting — and when practicable 

 tie a thin board just in front of the horns, so that the model may 

 end there. If, however, the back of the head down to the neck 

 is required — which it seldom is, for reasons explained hereafter 

 — it must be managed by " piece-casting." (See Chapter XII.) 

 The head being nicely soaped, lay a thin piece of string or strong 

 hemp along the top of the face and head, exactly in the centre, 

 and extending from the clay under the nostrils up to the back of 

 the head in a straight line. Be sure that the string is perfectly 

 straight, and that it presses closely to the nose before coming on 

 to the clay. 



Next mix the plaster, not in the usual manner, by adding 

 water to it, but by half filling a vessel with water, to which the 

 'plaster is added, a little at a time, until enough is mixed to 

 serve the purpose, i.e., in sufficient quantity to cover the head 

 with a layer some inches thick. After it is well worked up and 

 moderately thick, carefully pour it over the specimen, taking it 

 up as it runs down, and piling it up a little thicker in the centre, 

 to give stability to the mass. Just as the plaster is setting — 

 which a very little experience will teach — lift the ends of the 

 string upward through the plaster, which has the effect of cut- 

 ting it in two, but these halves will not fall off of their own 

 accord if care be taken. The mould being allowed to set for 

 about half an hour or an hour, according to the quality of the 

 plaster, is then ready for the next operation, which is the turn- 

 ing of the carcase, so that the head may also be turned upside 

 down. Previously to this, should the mould show the least sign 

 of coming off, it will be as well to tie it on. Supposing, how- 

 ever, that the wall of boards being removed, the head is suc- 

 cessfully turned until it rests with its centre on the table, it 

 may happen that the horns, being in the way, may require to 

 hang over the edge of the table to effect this properly, and that 

 the head, being rounded by the superior thickness of the mould, 

 may require propping. To describe the means for overcoming 

 such self-evident little difficulties as these, would only insult my 



