EUMINANTIA 337 







primary bronchial bifurcations (of Mr Farrow's specimen) 

 yielded the same microscopic results, the only thing worthy 

 of remark being that the embryos from the mucus seemed much 

 more lively than those which, as I supposed, had accidentally 

 escaped their shells. 



At 1.30 p.m. I placed some free embryos in two watch-glasses, 

 one containing water and the other saliva, and placed them before 

 the fire. Being called away professionally I found on my 

 return at 3 p.m. that evaporation to dryness had occurred in 

 the interval. All my attempts to resuscitate the embryos by 

 moisture proved unavailing, a result which, though negative, 

 proves how little capable these embryonic creatures are of 

 enduring desiccation. If these facts be confirmed, their prac- 

 tical significance is not without value in relation to the choice 

 of dry pasturage grounds for the rearing of young cattle. I 

 may add that whilst half an hour's immersion of the dried 

 embryos failed to restore any sign of life, the previous 

 warmth and moisture had caused many more embryos to 

 escape their shells during the time they were placed before the 

 fire. 



At 4 p.m. I passed some very rich mould through muslin. 

 Some of this finely sifted earth I placed in a watch-glass, adding 

 a little water to moisten it, and also numerous eggs and free 

 embryos. In a wine-glass and also in a small jar I placed some 

 coarse earth with water added to make thin mud, and to both 

 of these I added, not only eggs and embryos, but also portions 

 of the reproductive organs of the adult female worms. 



On the 23rd of October, at 2 p.m., I examined the contents 

 of these vessels. All the embryos in the vessels containing the 

 coarse earth were dead, but several were found alive in the 

 watch-glass containing the fine moist mould. Structually these 

 latter had undergone no perceptible change beyond a somewhat 

 closer aggregation of the somatic granules. 



Although the embryos in the coarse wet mud had perished, 

 the eggs with unhatched embryos appeared to have retained 

 their vitality. Of this fact, indeed, I subsequently obtained 

 abundant proof ; and I also satisfied myself that the death of 

 the embryos had not resulted either from the coarseness of the 

 earth or from excessive moisture, but from the presence of 

 numerous shreds of the uterine tubes which I had somewhat 

 carelessly added to the vessels. Previous experiments, con- 

 ducted many years back, had indeed taught me that few if any 



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