Observations on the Hatching of Fowls, fyc. 35S 
tance of 43 millimetres under the wire, it made 34 oscillations 
in the same time. I am, &c. 
Utrecht , 22d June 1821= 
G. Moll. 
Art. 'XYU.— Observations on the Hatching of Fowls from 
Eggs , which have been laid subsequent to the death of the 
Male Bird. By the Rev. Mr Jameson, M. W. S. Com- 
municated by the Author. 
Many facts relating to the economy of domestic fowls are 
known only to tbe naturalist, which, if generally understood, 
might prove beneficial to the rural economist. Natural histo- 
rians know, that the direct communication of the male is not 
necessary before every egg is protruded by the female, but 
that the connexion of the sexes having taken place early in the 
season, all the eggs protruded by the female are rendered pro- 
lific. This fact, known as early as the time of Fabricius, is ge- 
nerally treated as absurd, and, with the exception of the county 
of Norfolk, seldom if ever acted on. Unless the breeder is as- 
sured that the egg is directly or individually trodden, it is 
thrown aside as useless. I have taken the advantage of the 
wide circulation of the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, to 
bring the fact into more general observation, that eggs which 
have been laid weeks after the cock bird is removed, have their 
fecundity as perfect as if impregnated by the male immediately 
prior to protrusion. This fact is mentioned by Willoughby., 
The passage states the fact in the strongest manner : “ Per- 
chance it may seem to some no less wonderful, that by once 
treading of the cock, all the eggs which a hen shall lay for a 
whole year after will be rendered prolific.” Fabricius, as he is 
cited by Dr Harvey, saith, “ that it is most true that these pro- 
ceeds from the seed of the cock ; a vertue which renders pro- 
lific not only all the eggs, but also the womb, appears from the 
ordinary practice of poor women, who, keeping a hen without 
a cock, do for a day or two put it to some of their neighbours 
cocks ; for from that little time of compayning with the cock, all 
