290 
INCUBATION. 
advantage in selling when the market affords him 
a good profit. 
Vinegar from pure good cider is made in the 
easiest possible manner, as the latter substance 
will change into it with little trouble, and keep 
well even in a cool cellar. Some prefer an open 
shed for making this change. Exposed to the sun 
any great length of time the casks will leak more 
or less ; some evaporation also takes place, and 
the consequence is, considerable loss. After the 
cider has well worked, the liquor should be partly 
drawn off’, leaving the casks only about two thirds 
filled. For the purpose of admitting the air, the 
bunghole must stiil be kept open, and to prevent 
insects or vermin of any kind getting in, a square 
piece of fine wire gauze, or if that is not at 
hand, a strong piece of linen cloth should be nailed 
over it. To hasten the souring or rather ripening 
of vinegar, shake it frequently, and if necessary, 
place a cask of it for a short time in the sun. In 
this case, we have generally used a long neck bot¬ 
tle to stop the bung-hole instead of gauze. The 
neck is thrust into the cask, leaving the large part 
of the bottle outside. This is pretty effectual in 
keeping out the vermin, and also the rain, which 
the gauze will not, and we think thatf the heat 
drawn from the sun by the bottle hastens the 
ripening of the vinegar. 
INCUBATION. 
In our August No. we promised to follow up 
the article on the “Egg Hatcher,” by another, 
derived entirely from the pamphlet of Mr. Mickles, 
on the progress of incubation in the egg of the 
common fowl. All these changes we had the 
pleasure of examining, and they may be seen any 
day at 205 Broadway at the trifling cost of a shil¬ 
ling. We earnestly recommend our readers to 
beeome a witness of these curious workings of 
nature. 
In an impregnated egg, previous to the com¬ 
mencement of incubation, a small spot is discern¬ 
ible upon the yolk, composed apparently of a 
membraneous sac or bag, containing a fluid matter, 
in which swims the embryo of the future chick, 
and seemingly connected with other vesicles 
around it. 
1st Day. In a few hours after exposure to the 
proper temperature, the microscope discovers that 
a humid matter has formed within the limits of 
the embryo. At the expiration of twelve or four¬ 
teen hours, this matter bears some resemblance to 
the shape of a little head; a number of new 
vesicles also successively appear, foreshadowing 
the different parts of the future body of the chick ; 
those first formed, and most easily distinguished, 
may afterward be recognised as assuming the 
shape of the vertebral bones of the back. 
2d Day. The eyes begin to make their appear¬ 
ance about the 30th hour, and additional vessels, 
closely joined together, indicate the situation of 
the navel. The brain and spinal marrow, rudi¬ 
ments of the wings, and principal muscles, become 
observable. The formation of the head is also 
evidently proceeding. 
3d Day. The beating of the heart is perceptible, 
although no blood is visible; after a few hours, 
however, two vesicles, containing blood, make 
their appearance. One forming the left ventricle, 
the other the great artery. The auricle of the 
heart is next seen, and, in the whole, pulsation is 
evident. 
4th Day. The wings now assume a more de¬ 
fined shape, and the increased size of the head 
renders the globules containing the brain, the beak 
and the front and hind part of the head, distinctly 
visible. 
5th Day. The liver makes its appearance, and 
both auricles, now plainly seen, approach nearer 
the heart than before. That splendid phenome¬ 
non, the circulation of the blood, is now evident. 
6th Day. The lungs and stomach are distin¬ 
guishable, and the full gush of blood from the 
heart is distinctly apparent. 
7th Day. The intestines, veins, and upper man¬ 
dible become visible, and the brain begins to as¬ 
sume a distinct form. 
8th Day. The beak for the first time opens, and 
the formation of flesh upon the breast commences. 
9th Day. The deposition of matter forming the 
ribs takes place, and the gall bladder is perceptible. 
10th Day. The bile is distinguishable by its green 
color, and the first voluntary motion of the body 
of the chick is seen, if separated from its integu¬ 
ments. 
11th Day. The matter forming the skull now 
becomes cartilaginous, and the protrusion of 
feathers may be noticed. 
12th Day. The orbits of sight are apparent, and 
the ribs are perfected. 
13th Day. The spleen gradually approaches to 
its proper position in the stomach. 
14th Day. The lungs become enclosed within the 
breast. 
15th, 16th, and 17th Days. During these days, 
the infinity of phenomena in this wonderful piece 
of vital mechanism elaborate it into more perfect 
form, and it presents an appearance closely ap¬ 
proaching the mature state. The yolk of the egg, 
however, from which it derives its nourishment, 
is still outside the body. 
18th Day. On the eighteenth day, the outward 
and audible sign of developed life is apparent, by 
the faint piping of the chick being, for the firs't 
time, heard. 
19th, 20th, and 21st Days. Continually increasing 
in size and strength, the remainder of the yolk 
gradually becomes enclosed within its body; then, 
with uncommon power, for so small and frail a 
being, it liberates itself from its prison in a pecu¬ 
liar and curious manner, by repeated efforts made 
with its bill, seconded by muscular exertion with 
its limbs, and emerges into a new existence. 
The position of the chicken in the shell, is such 
as to occupy the least possible space. The head, 
which is large and heavy in proportion to the rest 
of the body, is placed in front of the abdomen, 
with its beak under the right wing ; the feet are 
gathered up like a bird trussed for the spit, yet in 
this singular manner, and apparently uncomforta¬ 
ble position, it is by no means cramped or con¬ 
fined, but performs all the necessary motions and 
efforts required for its liberation, with the most 
