PACTS OBSERVED IN HATCHING. 145 



It was an obvious inference from the success of 

 these experiments, that bakers and pastry-cooks might 

 apply their ovens to a similar use by constructing over 

 them hatching chambers, and that in this way the 

 multiplication of chickens might be extended to an 

 immense amount far exceeding even that of Egypt. 

 It does not appear, however, that these notions have 

 ever been carried into effect, or that anything has 

 been attempted beyond a few experiments of small 

 extent, in any part of Europe. A few years ago 

 an individual in the vicinity of London contrived an 

 apparatus for hatching by means of steam, and 

 exhibited it in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly; but we 

 have not learned that he ever carried his invention 

 so far as to make a trade of the chickens which he 

 hatched. 



The importance of keeping the eggs at a uniform 

 temperature is beautifully illustrated by the care which 

 hens may be observed to take in arranging the eggs 

 they are hatching. Amongst other curious facts con- 

 nected with this subject, is that of a hen throwing 

 out or eating the eggs which she cannot conveniently 

 cover. 



A few days ago we had brought to us three eggs 

 of the wood-wren (Sylvia sibilatrix, BECHSTEIN), 

 and being anxious to have them hatched we intro- 

 duced them, after warming them slightly, into the 

 nest of a canary, then sitting upon four eggs of her 

 own. In the course of the day two of her own 

 eggs had disappeared, having, we inferred, been de- 

 stroyed by her because she could not cover the seven 

 so as to keep them at a uniform temperature, the 

 three small eggs being nearly equal in size to the two 

 which were gone*. It is, no doubt, for the same 



*J,R, 



