REAUMUR'S ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION. 2GI 



riments, however, he warmed his eggs a little too 

 much, and actually cooked them so that they were 

 fit for the table ! * The principal difficulty in 

 attempting to introduce the Egyptian method, or 

 any modification of it, into France, arises from the 

 greater variability of the climate ; that of Egypt, 

 during the period when artificial incubation is 

 carried on, being remarkably uniform and favour- 

 able to the process. 



A singular anecdote is related by Reaumur, 

 illustrative of the early history of his attempts at 

 artificial incubation, which we shall give as nearly 

 as possible in his own words. He had been 

 turning this favourite subject over in his mind, 

 and considering various sources of artificial heat, 

 when he bethought himself of the great oven 

 of a monastery not far off: " Madame Rosignol, 

 the abbess, honours me," says Reaumur, " with her 

 friendship. As I know her good-nature, I know 

 also, that it would be a very pleasing proposition 



* It appears that to Reaumur we are indebted for the simple 

 but valuable discovery, that by smearing the surface of the egg- 

 shell with any unctuous substance, it may be preserved fit for use 

 as an article of diet for a much greater length of time than it 

 would otherwise have remained. 



