IN RELATION TO EVAPORATION. 



115 



toughness and little changed — was found, when an incision was made into the 

 contained muscles, to be undergoing the putrefactive change, denoted by the 

 sickening, putrid smell, the softening of fibre and the loss of striated structure, 

 with the appearance of many crystals, chiefly four-sided prisms, which were pretty 

 readily dissolved in dilute acetic acid. 



9. The Martin (Hirundo urbica). A young bird, fledged, on the 14th July, 

 was found dead, thrown out of its nest by the female bird, which had been for- 

 saken by her mate, probably killed. The nestling weighed 230 grs. One of its 

 thighs (No. 1), stripped of integuments, weighed 3-6 grs. ; the other limb (No. 2), 

 the entire lower extremity with integuments on, weighed 7*6 grs. 



July 15. No. 1 had lost 2-3 grs 



16. 

 19. 

 22. 



25. 



1-4 



2-3 

 36 

 3-9 



4-0 



or 63-8 per cent. 

 184 „ 

 30-2 „ 

 47-3 „ 

 61-3 „ 



52-6 



It had no further loss. 



It sustained no further loss ; proportionally 

 it was so much less than that of No. 1, 

 from having less muscle, more bone, &c. 



10. The Thrush (Turdus musicus). A male was shot on the 15th July. 

 Its leg, deprived of its integuments (No. 1), weighed 32*2 grs. ; the other leg, 

 with foot, the integuments left on, but without the feathers (No. 2), weighed 

 42-1 grs. 



July 16. 



No. 



1 had lost 13-2 



grs 



, or 41*0 per cent. 





» !> 



JJ 



2 



Jj 



2-8 





6-8 „ 





„ 17. 



JJ 



1 



Jj 



19-2 





, 59-6 „ 





jj >' 



jj 



2 



}> 



46 





10-9 





„ 19. 



JJ 



1 



JJ 



20-7 





, 64-2 „ 





J J >> 



;j 



2 



jj 



12-6 





30-0 





„ 27. 





1 



jj 



21-0 





65-1 



No further loss 



It was rigid, and the muscles were well preserved ; perfectly free from putrid 

 taint. No. 2 was not weighed after the 19th ; then examined, it was found 

 full of magots of the flesh-fly, twenty-seven in number, all of about the same size, 

 about *4 inch in length ; their weight was 16'6 grs. The muscles of the leg 

 were entirely devoured ; what remained, namely, skin and bone, weighed 12-9 

 grs. The larvse were partially distended with putrid matter of muscle, in a semi- 

 fluid state, of a reddish hue, and like chyme in appearance. As seen under the 

 microscope, it was found to consist of extremely minute granules, amongst which 

 were dispersed oil globules of different sizes, and some crystals, mostly prismatic. 

 In these larvae we have a striking example, it may be remarked, of highly 

 organised beings, structurally consisting of striped and unstriped muscles, of 

 trachea?, of nerves and various glands, &c, formed in so short a time by assimi- 

 lation of dead putrid matter. 



11. Of another thrush, killed on the 27th July, one thigh and leg (No. 1), de- 

 prived of integuments, weighed 50*1 grs.; the other leg and foot, stripped of 



VOL. XXIV. PART I. 2 I 



