170 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 43 



is greatly enlarged at the time of hatching and causes the egg-tooth to push 

 through the shell. The author found that this muscle attained its maximum 

 weight on the day of hatching and decreased in size rapidly after hatching, 

 but the proportion of dry matter in the muscle was lower at hatching than at any 

 other time. Similar but less marked results were shown by the flexor muscle 

 of the thigh which was selected as the control. It is conclude<l that the in- 

 filtrated complexus is incapable of pi-onounced contractions at hatching, and 

 the following suggestions are offered as to the mechanism of hatching: 



" The active muscular agent in breaking the shell comes about through a 

 change in posture of the head and upper cervical vertebrae chiefly dependent 

 on the musculus biventer and musculus spinalis. The reflex mechanism which 

 touches off this nmscle system is probably a respiratory reflc', not dependent 

 on demand for oxygen, but dependent on distension of the abdomen, particu- 

 lary the musculus levator ani, brought about through injection of the yolk 

 sac [into the digestive tract]." 



The lymph infiltration is attributed to this rapid absorption, and to the fail- 

 ure of the kidneys to take care of the excess of water. " Not until respiration 

 sets in does the general edema disappear, which implies that most of the water 

 in birds is excreted by the lungs, and also accounts for the ability of the new- 

 born chick to go at least three days and perhaps four and even five days 

 without water." 



Emergency feeding in Sweden during the war, J. A. Fries (Natl. Stock- 

 man and Farmer, 44 {1920), No. 3, pp. 98, 100). — The author presents a table 

 based on results of Swedish investigators showing for Phragmites communis 

 (a grass), the leaves of various trees, and wood pulp cellulose the proportions 

 of organic matter digested by live stock and the number of feed units and 

 amount of digestible protein per 100 kilograms. The successful use of cellulose 

 as a partial substitute for oats for work horses and as a feed for cows is noted. 



War-time feeding stuffs, M. Kling (Die Kriegsfuttermlttel. Stuttgart: 

 Eugen Ulmer, 1918, pp. VII +21^). — Most of the material in this book is taken 

 from the author's papers pi'eviously noted (E. S. R., 42, p. 369). 



The production of feeding stuffs from plants in Germany, Mullee-Len- ' 

 HARTz {Die Erzeugung von pflanzlichen Ndlir staff en im Deutschen Reiche. 

 Leipzig: Hans Wehner, 1917, pp. 32). — A statistical study and estimate of the 

 supply of plant material available for animal feeding. 



Sesbania: A feeding stuff from South Africa {But. Imp. Inst. [London], 

 n {1919), No. 2, pp. 18Jr-186).—A sample of Sesbania seeds (thought to be 

 S. aculeata) analyzed had the following percentage composition : Water 9.6, 

 crude protein 32.9, fat 6.2, fiber 10.9, other carbohydrates 39, and ash 1.4. The 

 seeds yielded no hydrocyanic acid. 



The production and use of concentrated feeding stuffs, H. Svoboda {Die 

 Erzeugung und Verwendung der Kraftfuttermdttel. Vienna and Leipzig: A. 

 Hartlcben, 1915, pp. VII-\-600, figs. 59). — This handbook deals with the conver- 

 sion into feeding stuffs of a wide variety of agricultural and industrial by- 

 products. Data as to the chemical composition of the feeds are assembled 

 from various sources. 



Microscopic control of feeds, W. Kinzel {Mikroskopische Futtermittelkon- 

 trolle. Stuttgart: Eugen Ulmer, 1918, pp. 100). — The author lists a large num- 

 ber of materials, mainly of plant origin, to be found in mixed feeds either as 

 adulterants or as legitimate constituents, and discusses their identification 

 under the microscope. , 



International trade in concentrated cattle foods {Internatl. Inst. Agr. 

 IRome], Bur. Staiis. Doc. Leaflets 3 {1919), No. 12, pp. 40). — A compilation of 



