32 



THE FEATireitEn TRiniCS. 



naturalist observed a chick at work, not pecldug it, but apparently, trying to make it 

 thinner, by constant Motion. 



As the strokes are continued, the first cracks increase, ah\-aj's cutting the egg across, 

 and fresh pieces of shell are driven off. Meanwhile, the chick turns on its bodj' from 

 left to right, doing so probably by means of its feet. The fracture varies in breadth in 

 different eggs, and is even of different breadths in eggs of the same bird. The effect 

 reqiured is the separation of the hard shell, and then of the membrane ; but it is not 

 produced by all chicks in the same time. Some complete it within an hour ; others 

 have been observed at work for several days together. The little creature shoidd, 

 however, take up the vmconsumed portion of the J'olk into its body — a provision which 

 will suffice for twenty-four hours. If it makes its exit before this is done, the chick 

 will die a few days after it is hatched. 



All who have observed the hatching of chickens, are aware that some come forth from 

 the shell before others. If, then, the first of the brood must immediately be fed, and the 

 mother had to leave the nest in search of food, the remaining eggs would suffer injury 

 for want of the necessary warmth, but the supjoort yielded by the last portion of the yolk 

 effectually prevents this evil. 



FIG. 24. — CHICKEN TWO DAYS BKFOKK EXTKUSION. 



The shells of eggs, it .should be remarked, are nicclj^ adapted in thickness to the 

 strength of the chick, that is, to make its escape. The favourite cage-bird, the canary, 

 could not break through a sliell like that of a barn-door fowl ; and were the sh^plls of the 

 domestic hen as thin as those of the goldfinch, they would all be crushed by her pressure. 

 How much is there, then, to admire in tliis nice adjustment ! Tlie .shell, luiwever, 

 becomes more brittle by the process of hutching, and, at the same tiin(>, tlic lining 

 membrane is partially separated. 



Sometimes the fracture of a .shell does not exceed three-fourths of the cinumferonc(> ; 

 but however this maybe, the whole uiass of the body is brouglit into action, the feel 

 bcinf u.sed as a lever. By repeatedly pushing the body forwards, tlie iliick gradually 

 raises the upper portion of the .shell, and, at length, tears off all its fastenings. Siiould 

 any part remain, it becomes a sort of liingc, wliidi allows the lid to fall im one side. It 

 is sometimes found placed williin tlic other purtion, like one cuii in another, and at 

 others, it is thrown to a consideralilo distance. Tiius tlie ^^•ol■k of liberation proceeds till 

 the brood is hatched ; and the young, in another way, become the objects of parental care. 



