212 FEACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



plaster, or wax. The uses of the first I have fully explained 

 — glue-water and plaster will stiffen or toughen it. There is 

 also " terra-cotta " clay, which, if moulded into shape, can be 

 " fired," and is lighter, and retains its shape without cracking. 

 Its service to the taxidermist is limited to the reproduction of 

 certain bones and some few natural objects, such as fungi, &c. 

 Plaster casts of almost anything may be made by "piece- 

 casting," which is casting arranged to take moulds from 

 anything "undercut" or complicated; such, let us say, as 

 a lion's head with open jaws, or the human face, surrounded 

 by a wi-eath of leaves and flowers, as in the antique sculp- 

 tures. Assuming you had such a model as this to cast from, 

 you would commence by oiling or soaping the whole in the 

 ordinary manner. The plaster being prepared, is poured on the 

 neck or chin, being prevented from spreading to other parts by 

 clay placed across as a barrier. The first section, being cast, is 

 trimmed, and its edges cut diagonally toward the chin, in such a 

 manner that the next piece ultimately unlocks from it, without 

 being wedged by undercasting. So you may proceed, trim- 

 ming each piece, cutting its edges to prevent locking, and 

 -casting bit by bit until you reach the hair and forehead, with 

 wreath. Here the pieces will be numerous, and your ingenuity 

 will be exercised to keep out of trouble from getting some 

 piece or another to lock the others. The face will often mould 

 into three or four pieces ; but it is on the forehead, chin, and 

 throat — and, if a lion's head, in the open mouth — where the 

 multiplicity of parts may perplex. These small x^ieces are, when 

 taken from off the model, very difiicult to put together again 

 without a core ; hence, when the mould is complete, each little 

 piece must have a shallow hole cut on its top, be replaced on the 

 model, and a " jacket-mould " cut into two or more pieces by 

 string (as described at page 154) made over the whole. This 

 jacket keeps all together for the ultimate casting by the pegs 

 in its surface made by the holes of the pieces underneath. 

 The ultimate cast is made by plaster being poured into a hole 

 left at 'one end of the mould for that purpose. Should this 

 ultimate casting be wanted hollow, it will be necessary to shake 

 the plaster, when poured in, around the mould in the manner 

 •described for making wax fruit (see page 217). 



