Phosphorus. 391 



or less steadily, ever since the eountry has been used for pas- 

 ture ; hence need to impress the necessity of returning to the 

 grazing lands the essential element which thy have been gradu- 

 ally losing for so long. 



Conclusions. 



1. The phosphorus content of the muscular tissue of all 

 classes of animals is practically a constant. 



2. The phosphorus content of the nervous tissue of all 

 classes of A^ertebrates is likewise practically a constant. 



3. The phosphorus content of the exoskeleton of all Inver- 

 tebrates is low, but is considerably greater in the higher groups 

 than in the lower. 



4. 'J'he phosphorus content of the endoskeleton of all Ver- 

 tebrates is much higher than in the exoskeleton of Inverte- 

 brates, and varies veiy little in the different classes except that 

 it is lower in the cartilaginous fishes. 



5. Australian native grasses have a markedly lower phos- 

 phorus content than European. 



6. Acclimatised European grasses have a higher phosphorus 

 content than native Australian, but lower than the same kinds of 

 grasses grown in Europe. 



7. The wood of Australian trees has a lower phosphorus con- 

 tent than that of European trees. 



8. The total phosphorus content of Victorian flour is low, 

 and the alcohol soluble moiety particularly low. 



9. The phosphorus content of Victorian eggs, milk and flesh 

 foods does not vary appreciably frouL European. 



10. The loss of phosphorus per year from Victorian grass 

 lands, ])y export of their products, is considerable, and it is a 

 nuitter of economic importance that the phosphorus thus ab- 

 stracted should be returned. , 



I wish very much to express my indebtedness to Professor 

 Osborne, in whose laboratory this research was conducted, and 

 to thank him for his continued interest and assistance. 



