CHAPTEK XXY. 
VARIATION BY FOOD. 
Every one has observed that well-fed animals de¬ 
velop large and strong bodies. Poorly fed children, 
as well as animals, are often stunted in their growth. 
On the other hand, prize animals are forced to a great 
size and exquisite form by choice food. Yegetables 
grow much larger in rich soil than they do in that 
which is poor. Squashes, pumpkins, beets, and the 
like, are common examples. 
The beehive contains males, neuters, and queens, 
as described in Book III. The so-called neuters are 
really undeveloped females. When a queen is needed, 
a grub is fed on a rich diet until she becomes a per¬ 
fect female, much larger than those fed the ordinary 
diet. 
Generally seven out of ten caterpillars are males, 
but if their diet be enriched there will be seven 
females out of ten. I have made several tests on 
chickens. If they were well fed the eggs hatched a 
much larger proportion of hens than when they were 
poorly fed. 
The scientist Young made a test on tadpoles. 
Under ordinary conditions there are fifty-seven per 
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