The volume changes accompanying extension of peroxide vulcanizates of natural gum rubber were measured using a dilatometer technique. Measurements of the force‐extension behavior and compressibilities were made on the same samples for the range of extension and volume change covered in the volume experiments. A constant compressibility was found; however, the volume changes accompanying extension were not proportional to the isotropic part of the stress. Thus, the strain energy cannot be separated into a sum of two parts, one due to the shear and one due to the dilatation.