258 PEACTICAIi TAXIDERMY. 



modelled foliage and flowers ; moorlieiis swiniming, witli jovrng . 

 just leaving nest, surrounded with, water-lilies, flowering rusli, 

 and other plants ; grouse and young ; swallows, in section of cow- 

 house, with, plants, &c., growing on roof (Leicester Museum); grebes 

 and nest, amid marsh plants and marsh marigold in flower, &c. 

 (South Kensington). To give a tenth of the phases of the studies 

 which can be worked out would fill pages of this book ; suffice 

 it to say that nature, being the guide in this, must be rigidly 

 adhered to. There is, of course, no need to copy any accidental 

 awkwardness ; but don't invent too much, as the greatest charm 

 of all is taking Nature as your guide. At the back of these 

 groups may be placed the eggs, and birds of the same species in 

 change of plumage or winter dress, thus making the life history 

 complete. For museums, and similar educational institutions, 

 the food and the skeleton should be exhibited, with explanatory 

 label attached. 



Reptiles and fishes are most imsatisfactory things to treat 

 artistically. When set up and dried they shrivel, and are seldom 

 modelled nicely. (To counteract such shrivelling, see Chapter 

 XII., page 210.) I have almost made up my mind that, taking 

 into consideration the stiffness of outline usually present in 

 mounting by the ordinary methods, all fish should be cast . in 

 plaster or paper, although even then stiffness may be 

 present unless the fish is posed properly. Fish lying in a mass 

 on a bank, or in a dish, as were some at the " Fisheries," look 

 the most natural and easy. One plan, new to me, however, was 

 adopted in such subjects as large pike, &c., which were cast, 

 coloured, and placed in a long basket upon straw, the whole 

 covered with glass. This method is especially nice for the 

 hall table as a souvenir of piscatorial success. I was rather dis- 

 appointed in the colouring of these casts. Many of the artists 

 had entirely missed the subtle colours of the pike, trout, and 

 other fish — one salmon only, and one dishful of grayling, mag- 

 nificently managed, excepted.* Perhaps, the best treatment of 

 fish, when modelled in plaster, was exhibited in the Indian 

 section ; here the tints of the fish were beautifully managed, the 



* One of the very best books I know to help teach the colouiing of fish is "British Fresh- 

 •vrater Fishes." by" the E-ev. W. Hcushton, M.A. Two \0-S., quarto, each fish beautifully 

 drawn aud coloured. 



