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III. — On the Temperature of the Common Fowl (Gallus domesticus). By 

 John Davy, M.D., F.R.SS. Lond. and Edin. 



Read 17th February 1868. 



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During the last three years I have made a large number of observations on 

 the temperature of the common fowl under different circumstances, the results of 

 which I now beg leave to submit to the Society, with the hope that they may be 

 considered not altogether uninteresting to the physiologist. 



The fowls tried were chiefly of the pure Dorking breed. At the time they 

 appeared to be healthy, and all in good condition. They had all the run of a field 

 adjoining the poultry yard. 



In all the trials the same thermometer was used, — each degree of which, that 

 of Fahrenheit, was divided into ten parts, and had been warranted correct by the 

 makers after comparison with a standard. The quantity of mercury in the bulb 

 of the instrument was so small that in a minute or two, when introduced into 

 the rectum of the bird, it reached the maximum; and in every instance the rectum 

 was the part of which the temperature was ascertained, presuming it to be there 

 the same as that of the interior of the body generally. 



Though the temperature of the air was mostly noted down, as well as other 

 circumstances likely to affect the results, I do not think it necessary to enter into 

 minute details respecting them, partly for the sake of brevity, and partly from 

 their not appearing to influence materially the results. I may, however, remark 

 that the observations were mostly made, whatever the season of the year, be- 

 tween 10 and 11 a.m., and that in the majority of instances the birds had been 

 kept in confinement during the night and early morning, and had not been fed 

 since the day preceding. 



1. Of the Average Temperature. 



The total number of observations made during the whole period on birds of 

 different sexes and different ages, varying in age from five weeks to five years, 

 the majority from six months to two years, amounted to 163 ; the average 

 temperature deducible from them was 107 o, 8L 



2. Of the Temperature of the Male and Female. 

 The number of males tried was 68, of females 95. The average temperature 

 from the former was 108°-39 ; from the latter, 107 o, 36. The highest temperature 

 observed in any one instance of the males was 110° — this in August, in sultry 

 weather, when the thermometer in the shade was 81°; the lowest was 106°*5, 

 whilst the highest noticed in the other sex was 109°*25, the lowest 105° — this in 

 a hen on the sixteenth day of her incubation. 



VOL. XXV. PAET 1. 2 H 



