170 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



for American trotting stallions, mares, and colts has assumed important propor- 

 tions, and that the beginning of the present movement can be traced to the 

 winning of the European championship by the American-bred mare Bosque 

 Bonita at Vienna, in 1890. Since 1894, 63 stallions, together with 51 mares in 

 the select 2.10 list, have gone abroad and most of them are now in the stud in 

 Europe. 



Austria has taken more of our 2.10 trotters than any other country, but the 

 Russians have paid the highest prices and have acquired some of the greatest 

 trotters ever foaled. It is thought that exports to Austia-Hungary number 

 upward of 1,000 head. Italy has bought several prominent American stallions 

 and mares. Germany is at present taking many high class trotters. France, 

 Holland, Denmark, and other countries are occasional buyers of American 

 breeding and racing stock. Australia and New Zealand are furnishing an ex- 

 tensive market at the present time. 



The Welsh pony, Olive T. Dargan {Boston, 1913, pp. XIII +52, pis. 24).— 

 This book furnishes an account of the origin, development, and qualities of the 

 Welsh pony. 



Poitou mule breeding (Live Stock Jour. [London], 19 (.1914), A^o. 2077, p. 

 SI). — This is an account of mule breeding operati^s at Poitou, France. The 

 mares used are of northern origin, powerfully built, and heavy animals, with a 

 height at the withers of from 15i to 16^ hands, the head long and thin, the lips 

 overhanging, the ears pointed and long, the neck and chest flat, the legs power- 

 ful, coarse and very hairy, and the color of the coat various. The best mares 

 are mostly found in the moor districts of La Vendee and of the Department of 

 Deux Sevres, and are the result of improved breeding methods and the intro- 

 duction of outside stock since 1800. 



The jacks used have powerful heads, long and large ears, small eyes, and 

 deeply built bodies, with round cruppers and coarse legs with small hoofs. A 

 dark color is preferred; light coats and black muzzles are avoided. It is 

 thought that jacks with long and curly hair produce better fleshing offspring 

 than others. The breeding of jacks or "baudets " is limited exclusively to pri- 

 vate studs in the district of Melle, in Poitou. 



It is stated that the mule of Poitou is especially suited for heavy work. Its 

 neck is broad and muscular, its back is straight, the chest broad and deep, the 

 loins broad, the croup round, the legs very powerful with broad joints and small 

 cylindrical hoofs. It stands from 14i to 15i hands high. Its hair is short, 

 rough, and generally dark colored. 



Studies on the physiology of reproduction in the domestic fowl. — VI, 

 Double- and triple-yolked eggs, Maynie R. Curtis (Biol. Bui. Mar. Biol. Lab. 

 Woods Hole, 26 (1914), ^'O. 2, pp. 55-83, figs. 4).— Observations made on the 

 frequency of the occurrence of double- and triple-yolked eggs, the relation of 

 their production to the age of the bird, and the nature of the processes involved 

 in their formation, are summarized as follows: 



" During the last six years more than 3,000 different domestic fowls, which 

 have been kept at least one year at the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 have laid but three triple-yolked eggs. Each of these eggs was laid by a different 

 individual and in each case the triple-yolked egg was one of the first eggs pro- 

 duced by a young pullet. 



" Young pullets also show a decided tendency to produce double-yolked eggs 

 when they first begin to lay. About 20 per cent of the pullets which lay before 

 they Nare seven months old lay among their first eggs one or more with two 

 yolks. Nearly SO per cent of the individuals of the flock never lay a double- 

 yolked egg. Mature birds also sometimes produce double-yolked eggs; but 



