The Story-Book of the Fields 



contents of our vessel, till it reaches the top. 

 As the breath, or the air, is collected in the 

 upper part of the bottle, the water being driven 

 back escapes at the base and flows into the 

 pan. When the vessel is filled with air we 

 cover the opening again with the palm of the 

 hand, and place the bottle on the table with 

 the mouth at the top. The bottle is full of 

 our breath. As we see it there is nothing to 

 show that this air, which has already been 

 used for respiration, differs in any way from 

 the air which has not been so used. It is as 

 transparent and invisible as usual. We might 

 say that there has been no change. But let 

 us test it and we shallsee that this air is far 

 from being the same. 



With the help of a wire I let a piece of a 

 lighted candle down into the bottle. As soon 

 as the flame passes the mouth, it is immediate- 

 ly extinguished. It is extinguished as com- 

 pletely and quickly as if it were immersed 

 in water. This extinction is not caused by 

 any clumsy movement. I again immerse the 

 candle as slowly and carefully as possible. 

 No use ; as soon as it enters the bottle it goes 

 out. If we introduce it into a similar bottle 

 full of pure air the candle will go on burning. 

 We know, therefore, that when air has once 



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