120 DR DAVY ON THE TEMPERATURE OF THE COMMON FOWL. 



3. Of the Temperature oftlu Sexes previous to Maturity. 



The term maturity is used as implying the stage at which the female begins 

 to lay and the male to exercise the generative faculty — in the instance of the 

 former about the sixth or seventh month, in that of the latter a month or two 

 earlier. 



The number of both sexes tried was 31, — of males, 1G ; of females, 15, — yield- 

 ing conjointly an average temperature of 108°-5, and separately, in the instance 

 of the males, 108°-4 ; in that of the females, 108 o, G6. The highest male tempera- 

 ture was 109°-25, the lowest 107°o ; whilst the highest female temperature was 

 109°-5, the lowest 108°. 



4. Of the Temperature of the Mature Male. 



The temperature of the same male was taken during one year monthly, with 

 the omission of one month. At the beginning the bird was two years old ; at the 

 end, when three years old, it weighed nine pounds and a half. During the whole 

 time it seemed in vigorous health. The results were the following : — 



In October, 



109°5 



In May, 



108°-5 



November, . 



109°-5 



June, 



109°-5 



December, . 



108°-5 



July, 



108°75 



January, 



108°25 



August, 



110°00* 



February, . 



107°-75 



September, 



108°-77t 



April, 



108°-25 







affording an average temperature of 108°-77. 



5. Of the Tempera t u re of the Female whilst Laying. 



The number of females tried was 12, varying in age from six or seven months 

 to four or five years. The average temperature reducible from them was 107 5 ; 

 the lowest temperature noticed in any one was 105 o, 5 — this in a hen five years 

 old ; the highest, 108°'5. 



6. Of the Temperature during Incubation. 



Of 14 sitting hens tried, the average temperature was found to be 107°; the 

 lowest temperature observed was 105° ; the highest, 109° 5. 



The average weight of the fowls at the beginning of sitting was 5 lbs. 13 oz. ; 

 the average loss at the end of the process was 1 lb. 7 oz. ; the smallest loss in 

 any one instance was 4 oz.— this in that of the fowl the temperature of which 

 at the end was 109°- 5 ; the greatest, and the same in two instances, was 1 lb. 8 oz., 

 and of both the temperature was 107°. 



* Thermometer in shade, 81 c . f Moulting. 



