262 P0T7CHET, ON ATMOSPHERIC CORPUSCLES, 



A fowl, brought up in a paved court at Rouen, afforded in 

 its respiratory sacculi an enormous quantity of wheat-starch, 

 normal and panified. Besides which they contained numer- 

 ous filaments of cotton and of linen, and an abundance of 

 sooty particles ; there were but a very few siliceous grains, 

 a circumstance probably owing to the habitation in which 

 the bird had existed. The humerus of this bird also con- 

 tained much starch, particles of soot, a considerable number 

 of cotton and linen filaments, and even some grains of 

 potato-starch and of glass. 



Thinking that in animals living in localities where starchy 

 matters formed an object of trade, the abundance of amy- 

 laceous particles would be still greater, I procured two young 

 chickens which had been kept for two months by a baker. 

 My surmise was not unfounded. The Avhole of the respi- 

 ratory organs in these chickens, notwithstanding their youth, 

 contained an amount of starch surpassing that which I had 

 found in the fowl. 



A pigeon taken from a dove-cot in the middle of the town 

 presented, in its respiratory passages, besides particles of silex 

 and soot, the debris of stuff of various colours and a few 

 grains of potato-starch, together with a considerable amount 

 of wheat-starch of all sizes, and, above all, an enormous 

 quantity of lentil-starch. Even the humeri contained so 

 much of the latter, that from eight to ten grains were found 

 in every case. I was unable to explain the presence of such 

 an abundance of lentil-starch in a bird which always swallows 

 seed without bruising it. But I very soon discovered the 

 source on examining the floor of the dove-cot. This was com- 

 pletely covered with the dung of the pigeons, containing an 

 enormous quantity of this sort of starch, which had passed 

 through the intestines unaltered. In flying about in their 

 dwelling the birds diffused this in the air, and it thus gained 

 an entrance into their respiratory organs. 



The examination of a bird which is ordinarily kept only 

 in wealthy establishments affords another proof of what 

 has been said. In fact, the numerous vestiges of magnificent 

 stuffs exhibited in its respiratory organs manifestly recalled 

 the luxurious dresses or works of those amongst whom it had 

 it had lived. This bird was a peacock. Unfortunately 1 had 

 at my disposal only its humeri; but having injected them, I 

 was really struck with the abundance of, and the splendid 

 colours presented by, all the fragments of stuffs contained in 

 these hones. I found, besides a considerable quantity of 

 wheat-starch, numerous filaments of wool and of silk of the 



ost magnificent blue, of a beautiful rose, and bright green. 



