Proposal P« 2 
The method used to obtain data is a closed system. A bird is placed in a 
waterproof chamber containing water and Carbon dioxide absorbing chemicals. 
To the three openings in the chamber are attached an air supply, a manometer, 
and an exhaust. After the animal has equilibrated for two hours, the air 
supply is clamped off, a known volume of oxygen injected through the exhaust 
tube, and the time recorded for the system to resume an equilibrium. From this 
data, a rate of oxygen consumption is obtained which can be converted into 
a measurement of metabolic rate. By suspending the chamber under water in a 
consoant temperature bath it is possible to hold the animal*s environmental 
^omparature conotcniu. Mitn fcne constant temperature bath it is possible to vary 
the enviromental temperature from -17 to + 40 degrees centigrade and thereby 
obtain the entire Temperature-Metabolism Curve for each species tested. The 
same techniques are applied to determining the development of homiothermism 
and the only additional requirement is knowing the chick* s age at the time of 
testing. 
I have used the equipment and techniques described above, and the system 
is practically foolproof and gives a great return of utdlizable data for the 
eifort and time involved. In the past the central problem for physiologists 
has been obtaining and maintaining the birds in captivity long enough to 
gather data. At Aure this problem is virtually eliminated. Furthermore, 
because the different species nesting here do so at different times and 
miroughout mos t of the year, there is a constant supply of birds to be investigated 
mis presents tee Paciiic 1 roject with an unusually good opportunity for 
meaningful research. 
Respectfully Submitted, 
