Variations in the water content of the larvae of Nematodirus battus during the hatching process

During a series of experiments on the ecology of Nematodirus battus observations were made on the uptake of water by eggs containing third-stage larvae. It was found that, as they approached hatching, the water content of the larvae increased markedly, then fell immediately after they escaped from the shell. The method of measuring the water content, using interferometry, is also described.