FEE 
FEC 
very curious consequences may be de- 
duced. 
He found that a lien devoured in ten 
days 1 11 tt. 843 grains troy of oats; these 
contained 
136.509 grains phosphate of lime 
219.548 silica 
356.057 
During these ten days she laid four eggs, 
the shells of which contained 98.776 grains 
phosphate of lime, and 453.417 grains car- 
bonate of lime ; the excrements emitted 
during these ten days contained 175.529 
grains of phosphate of lime, 58.494 grains 
of carbonate of lime, and 185.266 grains of 
silica ; consequently, the fixed parts thrown 
out of the system during these ten days, 
amounted to 
274.305 grains phosphate of lime 
511.911 carbonate of lime 
185.266 silica 
Given out 971.482 
Taken in. 356.057 
Surplus... 615.425 
consequently, the quantity of fixed matter 
given out of the system in ten days, exceed- 
ed the quantity taken in by 615.425 grains, 
The silica taken in amount- ? 21 <^ 48 ins 
That given out was only 185.266 grains 
Remains 34.282 
consequently, there disappeared 34.282 
grains of silica. 
The phosphate of lime ? 136 . 309 grains 
taken in was ^ a 
That given out was ..274.305 grains 
137.796 
consequently, there must have been formed 
by digestion in the fowl, no less than 
137.796 grains of phosphate of lime, besides 
511.911 grains of carbonate ; consequently, 
lime (and perhaps also phosphorus) is not a 
simple substance, but a compound, formed 
of ingredients which exist in oat-seed, water 
and air, the only substances to which the 
fowl had access : silica may enter into its 
composition, as part of the silica had disap- 
peared ; but if so, it must be combined with 
a great quantity of some other substance. 
(Ann. de Chim. xxix. 61). 
‘ These consequences,’ as Dr. Thompson 
observes, whom we follow in this article, 
4 are too important to be admitted without a 
very rigorous examination. The experi- 
ments must be repeated frequently, and we 
must be absolutely certain that the hen has 
no access to any calcareous earth, and that 
she is not diminished in weight ; because, 
in that case, some of the calcareous earth 
of which part of the body is composed, may 
have been employed. This rigour is the 
more necessary, as it seems pretty evident 
from experiments made long ago, that some 
birds, at least, cannot produce eggs unless 
they have access to calcareous earth. Dr. 
Fordyce found, that if the canary bird was 
not supplied with lime at the time of her 
laying, she frequently died, from her eggs 
not coming forward properly. (On Diges- 
tion). He divided a number of these birds, 
at the time of their laying eggs, into two 
parties : to the One he gave a piece of mor- 
tar, which the little animals swallowed 
greedily ; they laid their eggs as usual, and 
all of them lived ; whereas many of the other 
party, which were supplied with no lime, 
died.” 
Vauquelin also ascertained, according to 
Fojircroy, that pigeon’s dung contained an 
acid of a peculiar nature, which encreased 
when the matter is diluted with water ; but 
gradually gives place to ammonia, which is 
at last exhaled in abundance. (Fourcroy, 
i. 70). 
FEE, in law ,feudum, beneficium, all land 
in England is in the nature of a feud or fee, 
and subject to the original conditions of the 
grant, which is supposed to come from the 
crown ; but now that distinction is veiy im- 
material, 
Fee simple, is an estate to a man and his 
heirs, and is the largest estate which one 
can have; it descends to heirs of all kinds, 
and may be granted or devised at pleasure. 
When it is created by deed, it must be ex- 
pressly stated to be to the grantee and his 
heirs ; for an estate to A, for ever, is only 
good for life: in a will, however, this strict- 
ness is not required; any words which 
shew the intent of the testator will be suffi- 
cient. In a deed, a man cannot give a fee- 
simple to one, and then afterwards, in case 
he dies without heirs, to another. In a will, 
words which import this, are often constru- 
ed only to give the first taker an estate tail. 
It may be forfeited for treason or felony. 
Upon an exchange, a fee may pass without 
expressing the word heir; so also on a fine 
or recovery. A grant to the King, or a 
corporation, sole for ever, necessarily gives 
a fee, because they never die. 
FEELERS, in natural history, a name 
used by some for the horns of insects, 
