TEMPERATURE OF THE FOWL. 287 



destroyed, the heart ceases to pulsate, nor 

 can it be again quickened to movement. In 

 nature, it need scarcely be said, there is no 

 risk of such an event. The temperature of 

 the bird does not exceed 106 ; and that of 

 a climate, seldom or never reaches the degree 

 named. 



It is not considered, in a work of this kind, 

 that it is expedient, or that it would prove inte- 

 resting, to give a detailed account of the deve- 

 lopment of each organ in the chick up to the time 

 when it quits the egg a perfect being ; perfect, 

 that is to say, according to the degree of develop- 

 ment natural to the species while in the egg. 

 Physiologists have watched the phenomena in 

 question with the most profound attention, and 

 have described, with the most astonishing minute- 

 ness, the first appearance, the changes, and the 

 gradual perfecting of the various parts of the 

 chick in the egg. But such researches are little 

 adapted for popular instruction ; they often rather 

 weary than inform the mind of the general reader ; 

 and we shall consequently rest satisfied with a 

 bare account of a few general facts upon the sub- 

 ject. The minutiae are a-ccessible in the various 



