NOTES 297 



so on. 2 Each movement seemed to consist of (i) Pushing out 

 the large end of the egg, i.e., pushing lengthwise of the egg; 

 (2) thrusting the bill through the shell, the bill coming just far 

 enough to break through, in fact many times not breaking 

 through but only bulging the shell; (3) turning round a few 

 degrees. We could see this turning through the hole in the shell ; 

 also we could see that each thrust of the bill appeared a little 

 beyond the previous one. With the egg large end up, the turn- 

 ing was anti-clock- wise. 



" Not wishing to sacrifice the life of this young bird, I replaced 

 it in nest under parent. 9:45 A. M. We look and find young 

 out of shell." 



"No. 51, August 28, 191 1. Just after 2 P. M., I put seed in 

 the pen, and sitting bird comes off the nest to feed. I see that 

 egg is chipped almost all the way round, and soon the young 

 bird makes intense struggle to get out. It makes a strong effort, 

 and then rests, breathing deeply and rapidly, about eight or 

 ten seconds, then makes another strong effort. Once, apparently 

 more exhausted than usual, it rested nearly forty seconds. After 

 several such movements it got the halves of the shell separated 

 at an angle (they still held together at one point). During the 

 next few struggles it sometimes seized edge of shell with one 

 foot and apparently tried to push it away. But the final dis- 

 lodgment of shell seemed to be made by powerful movements 

 of head and neck. I was surprised at the violence of the 

 movements. 



" Having got out, it rested on ventral surface. When touched, 

 moved the head a little, but seemed unable to raise head from 

 nest." 



The question arises: By what means does the little bird turn 

 around inside the egg-shell? When I asked Professor Whitman 

 this question, he answered thus: "The bill itself may pull or 

 push the embryo round in the egg. Yet I think the turning 

 may be done by the feet. I think it would not need much force. 

 I have taken an egg between my finger and thumb, just before 

 hatching, and have felt a bumping inside; I feel very sure that 

 this was not imagination. The bumping may have been caused 

 by the bill, but more probably by the feet. The little fellow is 



2 Similar rhythmic activity was noted by Breed in the chick. Breed, F. S. The 

 Development of Certain Instincts and Habits in Chicks. Behavior Monographs, 

 No. 1, Boston, 1911. See pp. 5-7. 



