^8 LETTERS. 
thofe in an ox, but with refped to the other parts 
of thefe animals, they are not to be compared to- 
gether. His gut, which is quite rigid or ftiff, and 
compofed of ftrong thick membranes, is fo narrow, 
that a fmall goofe-quill can fcarcely enter it ; it is 
alfo remarkable, that the Inteftinum redtum is 
neareft to the pylorus, whereas in other animals it 
is clofe to the anus the crocodile’s redtum is filled 
with excrements, which return the fame way they 
came in, the narrow gut ferving only to convey 
the chyle. 
I have now had the pleafure for a month toge- 
ther of feeing the method in which the Egyptians 
hatch chickens in ovens. Nothing can be more 
amufing to behold, or eafy to perform than this 
operation, which the ancient Egyptians learned 
from the crocodile and oftrich. It is pleafant e- 
nough to fee an oven full of eggs, from whence 
hop out in a moment many thousand new inhabi- 
tants into our world, without a midwife, and I 
had almoft faid without a mother •, Ihe has at leaft 
no concern in bringing them forth. This is fo eafy 
to perform, that 1 am perfuaded, every old wo- 
man with us might do it in her ftove, if Ihe were 
told it was poffible, and a few ounces of fuperfti- 
tion was added. They might be done to great 
advantage with us, and afford in the large towns 
plenty of fo agreeable a difh, as broth made with 
fowls is, efpecially if made in the Swedifh manner. 
How much time and trouble docs it take to have 
6000 chickens hatched in the natural way ? And 
thefe come forth in Egypt in a month’s time, with- 
out any farther trouble, except that one perfon 
takes care to turn the eggs and heat the oven. 
The tafte of the fowls fo hatched, does not 
quite equal that of thofe hatched in the natural 
way i 
