TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 121 



minal veins. These included two of the Camaria, one Marsupial, fourteen Pachy- 

 derms, sixteen Antelopes, eight Deer, and fourteen other ruminants, including the 

 Alpaca (Auchenia) and Guanaco (C. llama). 



On (lie Size of the Blood -corpuscle in relation to the Size of the Animal, its 

 Swiftness and Poivers of Endurance. By Edwards Ceisp, M.B. 

 The object of the author of this paper was to show that the opinion generally 

 entertained that the largest animals in the same familj- had always the largest blood- 

 disks was often erroneous. Among the Quadrumanu there were many exceptions 

 to this supposed law, as also in the Clieiroptera. In the Camaria, a natural 

 family, the common Cat {F. domestica) had as large a corpuscle as that of the 

 Lion {F. leu). In the rodents, the little Harvest-mouse (M. ?nessoriiis) had as 

 large a corpuscle as that of the common Eat (31. dcmmamis) ; and it was remark- 

 able that the animals with the largest blood-coiiDUScles might be called aberrant, 

 as the Elephant {F. indicus), Capybara (H. cajnjbara), and Great Ant-eater 

 (M.jubata). Among birds, as in the ducks and geese, there were many exceptions 

 to this rule ; and the reptiles and fishes were more prolific in examples. As regards 

 the small size of the blood-coi-puscle in relation to higher amount of organization, 

 swiftness, and powers of endm'ance of the animals, the blood-disks of the Chim- 

 panzee, Orang, many of the smaller monkeys, race-horse, cart-horse, greyhound, 

 pug-dog, hare, rabbit, goat, otter, fox, sheep, hog, rapacious birds, sharks, and 

 others were adduced to disprove this theory. These inferences were exemplified 

 by a diagram of the blood-coi-puscle of 180 diflerent species of animals, drawn to 

 scale. 



On the Temperature of the Sexes. By Jony Dayt, M.T>., F.B.S. L. Sj- E. 



Mr. Lewes, in his excellent work on the scientific writings of Aristotle, when 

 commenting on the dictum of that philosopher, that man has more warmth than 

 woman, expresses a contrary opinion as established bj' modem investigations. 



The author, from his own observations, supports the statement of Aristotle, 

 having, in a large number of instances, in which comparative trials were made with 

 much care, found the temperature of woman a little lower than that of man. 



A priori, he thinks this might be expected, inasmuch as it is an established fact 

 that man, on an average, consumes more oxygen in respiration than woman, ^^nd 

 his observations on the temperature of other animals, so far as they extend, have 

 been confirmatory. As a special example, he compares the temperature of the 

 male and female of the common fowl. Lender similar circumstances he has found 

 that of the fonner a little higher than that of the latter, the maximum of the one 

 having reached 108° -5, the maximum of the other 108°. 



Some Observations on the Horse-chestnut (^sculus hippocastaneum). 

 By JoHX Davy, M.D., F.B.S. L. cf- E. 



In this paper the author gives an account of some experiments made by him on 

 the nut, the leaves, and the bark of this tree. The nut he foimd composed chieily 

 of starch, cellulose, and casein, with a little oil and mucilage. In the shell of the 

 nut, in the leaves, and in the bark he detected tannin and colom'ing-matter. 



He concludes with pointing out some of the uses of the several parts, how the 

 nut is a nourishing food, especially for sheep, as proved by experience in Switzer- 

 land, and is likely to be so for pigs, which show no aversion to it ; and further, 

 how the leaves and shell of the nut and the bark are applicable to dyeing and 

 tanning and the making of ink. The colour they impart is a good "brown or 

 yellow ; and when fixed by alum as a mordant, it bears washing in the instance of 

 cotton and silk. In France another use is made of the nut : crushed by grinding 

 to the state of a fine powder and mixed with water, it forms an emulsion, which is 

 employed in the manufactm'e of sUk, woollen, and linen fabrics ; and the refuse, it 

 is represented, mixed with an equal portion of pollard, proves a nutritive food for 

 poultry. It has been used also in Paris mixed with flour in the making of bread. 



