244 PKACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



against tliem being tlieir rather nnnatural flatness — due to 

 pressure ; this, however, may be counteracted by a little judg- 

 ment during the drying, one plan being the regulation of 

 pressure at certain points, aided also by clean dry sand. 



Several hard-leaved plants (mostly foreign) found in our con- 

 servatories are also excellent driers, many taking colour readily. 



Many grasses (not the flowers, but the leaves or blades) dry 

 well. Amongst the best of these is the "wiregrass," found 

 in woods, growing especially over runnels in those localities. 

 The flower also of this plant is most eligible as a decorative 

 agent. The wood melick is another elegant and suitable plant. 



The sedges {Car ex) dry and colour well, as also several of 

 the water-rushes, reeds, and flags. The "toad-rush" {Juncus 

 hufonius), and its allies, found in damp places, by roads, by 

 canals, and in pasture or corn-fields, dry and colour excellently. 



Sphagnum, or bog moss, especially when having pink tips, is a 

 most beautiful object ; the only thing to be said against it is 

 the difl&culty of getting it free from water, and the length of 

 time it takes afterwa^rds to dry. 



Mosses of various sorts growing in woods on trees — lichens, 

 gold and grey, mosses or lichen- covered twigs, sprigs of heather, 

 furze, sea-lavender — all dry well, and come in usefully. 



Many persons like their moss and grasses dyed : this is perhaps 

 allowable in some cases for common work ; but if a bird or a 

 mammal is nicely mounted, the plainer the fitting, and nearer 

 nature, the better. To those, however, who desire to dye their 

 grasses, I recommend Judson's powder dyes as the readiest 

 medium, the directions for manipulating which are given with 

 them. Any rough grass in flower does for dyeing, and a visit to 

 the fields just before haymaking will supply the amateur with 

 all he wants for this. 



Teazles, thistles, and the umbels (seed-heads) of various plants, 

 chiefly compositse, will be found of service; but everything 

 must be thoroughly dried before being coloured, or before being 

 introduced into shades or cases. Nothing must be coloured 

 with water colours or gums, as some writers contend, or mould 

 will inevitably follow. A few drops of creosote, or the black 

 carbolic acid of commerce, poured into the case or shade just 

 before closing up, is a very good thing to prevent mildew, though 



