WATER CONTENT AND RATE OF METABOLISM 
145 
with low percentages of water, left at 38°C. for a period of three 
weeks and fed grass, grow and become adults, and the various 
changes in the water content during this period are easily followed. 
Table 3 selected from several such experiments shows that a 
growing animal has the maximum percentage of water (75 per 
cent), and that a progressive decrease in water content with 
age and increasing body weight, to a minimum of 65 per cent. 
TABLE 2 
Showing the percentage of water and solids of Chortophaga viridifasciata taken at 
different periods of the year 
D\TE 
TEMPERATURE 
PERCENTAGE OF 
NUMBER OF 
Water 
Solids 
October 10, 1919 
October 11, 1919 
November 4, 1919 
November 5, 1919 
November 13, 1919 
November 14, 1919 
November 18, 1919 
November 19, 1919 
November 23, 1919 
November 26, 1919 
December 3, 1919 
22-25 
22-25 
13.0 
8.0 
10.0 
4.5 
7.0 
7.5 
11.0 
9.0 

5.0 




72.0 
72.0 
69.4 
69.4 
66.5 
66.1 
69.5 
67.3 
67.3 
65.7 
65.2 
65.2 
67.4 
66.5 
62.8 
65.0 
28.0 
28.0 
30.6 
30.6 
33.5 
33.9 
30.5 
32.7 
32.7 
34.3 
34.8 
34.8 
32.6 
33.5 
37.2 
35.0 
50 
35 
25 
15 
17 
43 
14 
60 
47 
62 
50 
December 8, 1919 
34 
December 16, 1919 
December 17, 1919 
December 22, 1919 
January 4, 1920 
19 
38 
15 
41 
takes place. Figure 1 gives graphically and in more detail, 
similar results taken from many experiments which show the 
water content and weight relations of animals during the period 
from October, 1919, to January, 1920. The results of two 
experiments at different intervals, giving the effects of a constant 
temperature of 38°C., are also indicated. 
From this figure it is to be noted that during this four-month 
period, rather marked changes in the water content of animals 
take place, while body weights undergo only slight and gradual 
