M. Buzaxeingues on Domestic Fowls/. 337 



I could only compare together the eggs produced in the same 

 poultry yard; for the eggs which seem large in one place appear 

 small in another, on account of the difference of the races, which 

 is determined by that of the food. 



It is only by their weight that the volume of eggs can always 

 be judged of; for the largest often weigh less than the smallest, 

 when they have not been laid at the same period, on account of 

 the evaporation of the humid part. They ought, therefore, to be 

 measured ; and the most accurate measure is that obtained by the 

 displacement of water, the weight of which may, for more con- 

 venience, represent the volume of the body which has displaced 

 it. 



However, in 1826, 1 weighed the eggs themselves, after separat- 

 ing the larger from the smaller, and the weights obtained confirm- 

 ed my ideas as to the relative volume. 



In 1827 I proceeded in the following manner: After forming 

 the courses by bringing together the eggs which appeared the 

 largest, and afterwards the smallest^ I immersed at once all the 

 eggs of the same course in a vessel exactly filled with water, and 

 placed in another empty vessel. The water which, by this im- 

 mersion, passed into the second vessel was accurately weighed, 

 and its weight represented the total volume of the course. On 

 dividing this weight by the number of eggs, I obtained a mean 

 representation of volume for each egg. . \ 



To avoid all confusion, I make particular marks with ink 09 

 each of the courses. I marked the chickens the moment they ■ 

 were hatched, by cutting off one of their claws. This mode of , 

 marking is very simple, but care must be taken to renew it every '! 

 fortnight, for the cut claw sprouts, and at length does not differ 

 from the rest. From having neglected this precaution in marking j 

 the young of certain broods, which I placed together under the ' 

 charge of the same hen, I found it impossible to distinguish them 

 again, and was thus deprived of the result of part of my la- 

 bours. 



I opened the abdomen of the chickens which died, in order to 

 discover the sex, when they had not yet exhibited any external 

 marks. I kept very accurate notes of all, and here give the ge- 

 neral results. 



