364 ALBERT C. EYCLESHYMEK. 



died during the second or third week. Of the eight which were 

 turned six developed normally ; a seventh was opened on the 

 twenty-second day, showing normal conditions ; while in the 

 eighth the chick died on the twentieth day, the adhesions between 

 the allantois and the yolk having prevented the absorption of 

 the latter. 



Natural Turning. - - In order to obtain satisfactory data, it was 

 necessary to arrange nests in such a manner that the position of 

 each egg could be sketched at frequent intervals without disturb- 

 ing the hen. Three nests with felt sides and concave glass bot- 

 toms were constructed, and placed in such positions that the 

 eggs could be viewed and sketched from below. The eggs 

 were numbered in four places about equally distant from each 

 other and midway between the two ends of the egg. Each figure 

 bore an alphabetical index. The numbers on egg I would run 

 thus : la, ib, ir, \d, so that any degree of turning might be readily 

 observed. Five sketches or plats of each nest were made each 

 day during the incubating period, and at the following hours : 

 6 A. M., 9 A. M., 12 M., 3 P. M., 6 P. M. 



The observations show that the eggs are turned partially or 

 completely much more frequently than has been supposed, at 

 least five times during any given day. It should also be stated 

 that on a number of days sketches were made at more frequent 

 intervals, and in nearly every case the eggs had been partially or 

 completely rotated. The observations made were confined to 

 the twelve hours between 6 A. M. and 6 P. M. A number of 

 scattered observations lead to the belief that the eggs are also 

 turned during the night, but just how frequently is yet to be 

 determined. 



The hen turns the eggs in two ways. If a sitting hen be 

 watched as she returns from feeding to sitting, it will be seen 

 that she moves her body rapidly from side to side. Whether 

 the object be to turn the eggs is uncertain. Probably the first 

 object is to bring the surface of the body in the closest possible 

 contact with the growing embryos. Accidentally or purposely, 

 she also turns the eggs. This is not only true of the hen return- 

 ing from feeding, but also when on the nest, for she is frequently 

 observed moving about and settling down with the same charac- 



