92 Practice. 



during several months together ; and as in 

 the hottest countries, all the months which 

 follow one another, have not an equal tem- 

 perature of air, the temperature of some of 

 them require the fire to be lighted a greater 

 number of times ; or that they keep it longer 

 in their ovens, than ought to be done, either 

 in the succeeding months, or in those which 

 preceded. 



During many days previous to that of 

 the hatching, it would be needless and even 

 dangerous to increase the fire in the oven ; 

 because after a certain number of days, 

 the whole extent of the place has acquired 

 a degree of heat, that may be preserved in 

 it many days together, only by using a 

 few easy precautions, notwithstanding the 

 impression of the external air, and that 

 without any sensible diminution, or at least 

 without any which might be hurtful to the 

 chickens. Travellers differ as to the period, 

 at the end of which the fires cease in the 

 ovens ; but it seems probable that they are 

 on^ly kept up during the first eight or ten days, 

 the eggs being subsequently sufficiently 



