Diseases of the Reproductive Organs 273 



consider here only some of the more important general classes 

 of such abnormal eggs. Such eggs are very interesting from 

 the scientific standpoint but are of relatively little practical 

 significance to the poultry keeper because of the rarity of 

 their occurrence. 



Soft-shelled Eggs. — These are eggs laid without a suffi- 

 cient amount of shell substance covering the shell membrane. 

 The immediate cause lies in a failure of the uterus to function 

 properly. Regarding this class of abnormal eggs Wright 

 has the following to say : " Soft eggs may be caused by lack 

 of shell-material, which, if discovered, points to the remedy, 

 the most rapid being pounded raw oyster-shell. Or they 

 may be caused by the fowls being driven or frightened, in 

 which case they soon cease, and nothing need be done un- 

 less the injury has been so severe as to prematurely detach 

 small and unripe yolks, when the case becomes a real abor- 

 tion, or they may be caused by condiments and too much 

 animal food, spices in particular leading frequently to all 

 sorts of trouble with the egg-organs, particularly in the 

 Mediterranean races of poultry. A few small doses of Ep- 

 som salts or jalap, and cessation of the extra stimulus, 

 will remedy this. But far the most usual cause is simple 

 over-feeding. A little careful investigation will find which 

 is in fault, and that will indicate the appropriate remedy. 

 Want of shell material is far less common than it used to be ; 

 over-feeding or over-stimulation probably more so." 



Small, Yolkless Eggs. — These little eggs, variously called 

 "wind-eggs," "cock eggs," "witch eggs," "luck eggs," etc., 

 are familiar to every poultry keeper. They contain no 

 definitely formed yolk, and to the casual observer seem to 

 consist of nothing but a small shell filled with white. The 

 laying of one of these eggs is popularly supposed to mark 

 the end of a laying period. This belief is without founda- 

 tion in fact. They may be produced at any time. Un- 



