144 



HABITS OF BIRDS. 



take advantage of the heat of the bread-ovens belonging 

 to the extensive benevolent institution called L' En- 

 fant Jesus. After several trials to ascertain the heat 

 of a room which was situated over this bake-house, 

 and such arrangements as were necessary to insure 

 uniformity, it was determined to arrange the eggs on 

 the shelves of a small cupboard placed there, and 

 the care of them was entrusted to the nuns of the 

 establishment. In one of the first experiments made 

 here, the charge of keeping a single box, containing 

 a hundred eggs, was entrusted to a very ingenious 

 nun, who was really enthusiastic in the business. 

 Above half of these eggs proved abortive ; but it was 

 worthy of remark, that about twenty were hatched 

 one day sooner than they would have been under a 

 hen. When the first of them appeared the nun was 

 transported with joy, and directly ran to tell the news 

 to every body she could find. 



Hatobing-room over the bake-house ovens of the Priory of L'Enfaat 

 at Paris. 



