ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 271 



Analyses made to determine the seasonal variation in the composition of eggs 

 showed that the average percentage of the total egg that is dry yoUc was 13.85 

 in October and 15.56 iu April; that the phosphoric acid in the diy yolk was 

 2.607 In October and 2.653 per cent in April; and that the percentage of dry 

 white in the total egg was 8.395 in October and 7.39 in April. However, it is 

 believed that the analyses were too few to justify definite conclusions. The 

 Indications are that during tlie spring when hens are laying well and when the 

 eggs are heavier than at any other time of the year the dry matrer of the yolk 

 constitutes a greater percentage of the total weight of the egg than in the fall 

 when the fowls are laying less liberally. This fact presumably accounts for 

 the larger and more perfectly nourished chicks in the spring than in the fall. 



In comparing two lots of pullets, one fed on granulated bone in addition to 

 the regular grain mixture, and the other oyster shell, it was found that the 

 former lot laid practically twice as many eggs. The yolks of lot 1 constituted 

 a larger proportion of the total egg substance than did those of lot 2, indicat- 

 ing that a lack of sufTicient phosphorus in the ration results in diminished size 

 of yolk. There was also slightly more phosijhorus in the dry matter itself 

 when the fowls received abundant phosphorus supply in the ration. The whites 

 of the eggs of lot 2 constituted a greater percentage of the total weight of the 

 egg than did those of lot 1, but the percentage of phosphorus in the whites 

 was identical in both cases. The shells of the eggs laid by fowls fed granu- 

 lated bone were somewhat heavier in proportion to the total weight of the eggs 

 than the shells of eggs from oyster shell-fed fowls, and contained 6.G6 per cent 

 more phosphoric acid, indicating that some of the tricalcium phosphate of the 

 granulated bone was used for shell material. It is not known whether this 

 phosphorus can be assimilated by the developing embryo as is done in the case 

 of calcium carbonate. It was found that the ordinary grain ration fed to laying 

 hens contains several times as much phosphorus as is found in the eggs pro- 

 duced. 



Rearing chicks successfully, R. M. Sherwood (Iowa Sta. Cite. 11 (1914), 

 pp. 5-15, figs. 6). — In this circular general instructions are given for the rearing 

 of chicks, including natural and artificial brooding, feeds and methods of feed- 

 ing, and sanitary precautions. 



[Turkeys], Margaret Mahaney {Boston, 1913, pp. XI II +132, pis. 12).— A 

 genei'al treatise on the breeding, care, feeding, management, and diseases of 

 turkeys. 



On a case of unilateral development of secondary male characters in a 

 pheasant, with remarks on the influence of hormones in the production of 

 secondary sex characters, C. J. Bond (Jour. Genetics, S (1914), No. 3, pp. 204- 

 216, t^ls. 5). — In the case under observation, on careful dissection no trace of a 

 sex gland could be found on the right side. The sex gland on the other side is 

 described as an ovotestis, which probably functioned originally as a female 

 gland. The ovarian portion subsequently atrophied while the tubular gland or 

 male portion became functionally active. Male secondary characters developed 

 on one side of the body only and the hormonic explanation is given as a partial 

 although not a complete solution of the problem. 



It is shown that the " presence of male sex gland elements is necessary for 

 the development of secondary male characteristics in every individual whether 

 the female sex gland be present or not, [and that] the essential point is the 

 presence of a stimulating factor rather than the absence of an inhibiting fac- 

 tor." In this particular case "not only are the somatic characters different 

 on the two sides but the sex gland is also a dual gland composed of male and 

 female elements. The bird is in fact a true genetic as well as a somatic 

 hermaphrodite." 



55733°— No. 3—14 6 



