LECTURE VII. ^99 



embryon, if fecundated. Female birds pre- 

 pare and deposit their crustaceous ova when 

 seckided from the presence of the male. 

 From the magnitude of some of them, 

 and the facility with which they are ob- 

 tained, they have been made subjects of 

 interesting examination by various phy- 

 siologists. 



Mr. Hunter began his examination in 

 those of the hen and goose in the year 

 1755, and the industry and accuracy with 

 which he noted all the changes occurring 

 during incubation are evident. He has put 

 up in his Museum two sets of eggs, show- 

 ing these changes from the first few hours 

 of incubation to the maturity of the chick, 

 and consequent conclusion of that process. 

 As many of the appearances, however, are 

 evanescent, or destructible by immersion in 

 spirits, he procured beautiful drawings to 

 be made of them by the best artists. It 

 seems proper to mention, for it exhibits 

 the peculiar character of his mind, that at 

 the time of his death he was engaged in 



