ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 691 



Hunter-horse production in Ireland, \V. .1. Kennedy I U. S. Dept. Agr. } Bur. 

 Anim. /wins. Rpt. I904,pp. 181 226, pls.8). The breeding, feeding, care, and man- 

 agemenl of Irish hunter horses is discussed on the basis of information gathered by 

 the author on a trip undertaken to Btudy this industry. 



It is pointed oul thai there is much lack of uniformity in Irish banters, but that 

 nevertheless there has been a ready market for frish horses of all sorts, those of tin 

 highesl type being purchased for hunting, while those bred ;il"ir_r the same line but 

 deficienl in size and quality are Bold for other uses and for smaller prices. The 

 various classes for which then- is a foreign demand at very good prices are freight- 

 carrying hunters (heavy, medium, and light), mares and allies for breeding' pur- 

 poses, saddle horses, officers' remounts, troopers' remounts, harness horses-, and 

 hack or cab horses. 



The points to be observed in judging first-class heavy-weight hunters are given in 

 detail, and the different crosses with hunters which are commonly met with are 

 described. The influence of district and comity shows, the work of the departmenl 

 of agriculture of Ireland, and other factors which aid in the development and 

 improvement of the Irish hunter industry are spoken of. 



Mount Serle government camel depot, .1. Desmond [Jour. Dept. Agr. So. Aust., 

 9 (1905), No. /, /v. 7-12, figs. /'i. -Information is given regarding the care and man- 

 agement of the government camel herd of 30 males, 4~> females, and a numherof 

 calves, and also regarding the successful castration of a number of males, an opera- 

 tion commonly supposed to he followed by a high death rate. 



The causes of daily variation in body weight, J. Latschenbebgeb and S. 

 Polansky I Arch. Physiol. [Pfluger], 108 (1905), Xo. 8-9, pp. 451 472, pis. .').— From 

 experiments with 2 horses extending over 186 days the conclusion was reached that 

 the gaseous excretory products are the chief factors which influence daily changes in 

 body weight. Periodicity in the variations was noted. 



An investigation into the diurnal variation of the body temperature of 

 nocturnal and other birds, and a few mammals, S. Simpson and J. J. Galbkaitii 

 (Jour. Physiol., S3 [1905), No. 8, pp. 225-288, figs. 18).— In birds of diurnal habit 

 which were examined (chickens, ducks, pigeons, sea gulls, thrush, etc.), the mean 

 body temperature for 24 hours, as shown by measurements made with a rectal ther- 

 mometer, was practically the same for all species, namely, 41 to 42° C. 



The range «>f temperature with different species was found to vary greatly, being 

 least in the largest and greatest in the smallest birds. For example, in the domestic 

 duck it was 0.92° and in the thrush 4.27°, while in the birds of intermediate si/.e the 

 range was also intermediate. When sex was considered, the mean temperature of 

 females was found to he higher than that of males. 



"The temperature curve of diurnal birds i- essentially similar to that of man and 

 other homceothermal mammals, except that the maxima occur earlier in the after- 

 noon and the minima earlier in the morning. 



"In nocturnal birds (owls), on the other hand, the curve is inverted, the maxi- 

 mum occurring about midnight or in the early morning and the minimum about 

 noon or shortly after. As in diurnal birds, the temperature is highest during the 

 natural period of activity (night) and lowest during the period of rest (day). The 



mean temperature is lower and the range less than in diurnal birds of the same si/e. 



" The curves obtained from the rabbit, guinea pig, and dog show the same features 



as in man. with a few minor differences. Both the mean temperature and the range 

 is less than in birds." 



Incubation and incubators, R. II. Wool. | U. 8. />>/>'■ Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. 

 Rpt. 1904, />/>■ 286-815, figs. 11).— A summary of data regarding incubators in which 

 different types of incubators are discussed, the defects of incubators pointed out, and 

 methods of operating incubators and other related topics spoken of. 



Incubation and incubators, K. II. \\< U. S. !></>'. Agr. f Farmers* Bui. 286, 



]>p. -11, figs. 11). — A reprint of the article noted above. 



