294 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



would hatch out at about the same time, but I had several clusters 

 of eggs laid within 24 hours of each other, kept in the same box^ 

 and necessarily under the same conditions, and when some of 

 these were hatched out, the embryos of other clusters were not 

 more than half developed. This statement has been questioned, 

 but I am absolutely sure of the correctness of my observations in 

 this respect. 



Several of the clusters had not been fertilized, as shown by the 

 non-development of the embryo. 



Binney declares that eggs that had been several times subjected 

 to a great heat in an oven, so as to become perfectly dry and 

 shriveled, when placed in a moist place regained their lost form, 

 and young were produced from them. While not doubting this 

 statement^ my experience has been that, when the egg became 

 dry and shriveled, the embryo was killed; though when supplied 

 with moisture the vitality under adverse circumstances was 

 wonderful. 



Embryos thcit I have dissected from the egg and placed in water 

 retained life from 24 to 48 hours. Even when the power of 

 motion was lost, the heart continued to beat. 



Rate of growth 



Even under the same conditions the rate of growth of all the 

 animals is not uniform. I have at this writing more than 100 

 animals that were hatched at about the same time. They have 

 been kept in the same box and of course under the same condi- 

 tions. But they vary decidedly in size^ some being not more than 

 half the size of others. 



At least two seasons are required for an animal to reach 

 maturity. I have now specimens that were hatched nearly 10 

 months ago, which have been kept in a warm room during cold 

 weather, therefore not hibernating, and supplied with an abund- 

 ance of food; yet some of them are not half grown. They prob- 

 ably developed as rapidly as in natural conditions. Naturally 

 they would hibernate during cold weather, and the growth would 

 not be as great in 10 months as in confinement. 



