CRAYONS are a useful kind of material for drawing. Black chalk found in Italy, white chalk found in France, and red chalk, form three of the best varieties of crayons; each has its own peculiar value as a drawing ma terial. Artificial crayons are composed of different coloured earths and other pigments, rolled into solid sticks with some tenacious stuff such as milk, common gin, or beer wort ; the best are procured from Switzerland. A new kind called Athenian crayons has recently been introduced ; they are sold at the London colour-shops at three to four shillings per dozen. The native crayons are the legiti mate materials for the artist in the study of drawing, and in tracing the first thoughts of design. Some of the sketches of Raphel, Michael Angelo, the Caracci, and others of the great painters are in this material.
Au instrument called a portc.rayon is em ployed to hold the crayon. It is a metal tube split at each end, so as to admit the crayon; a sliding ring embraces the tube, and assists in retaining the crayon. A stump made of lea
ther, cork, or paper, closely rolled, or cut into a short round stick more or less sharply pointed at each end, is used to soften and spread the chalk or crayon in the shaded parts of the drawing.
Messrs. Wolff have recently introduced what they call crayon-paper ; its surface has a fine nap similar to that of cloth, which renders it capable of receiving the marks of the crayon with great readiness.
The following materials are said to form a kind of crayon fitted for drawing on glass. Equal quantities of asphaltum and yellow wax, melted together, thickened with lamp black, and poured into moulds to form cra yons. These crayons may be bevelled to a fine point, and will mark well on a perfectly clean piece ,Qf glass.