76 The Method. 



and a section of about one third of the 

 length of the shell being separated, de- 

 livers the prisoner, provided there be no 

 obstruction from adhesion of the body to the 

 membrane which lines the shell. Between 

 the body of the chicken and the membrane, 

 there remains a yiscous fluid, the white of 

 the eg^ thickened by the intense heat of in- 

 cubation, until it becomes a real glue. 

 When this happens, the feathers stick fast 

 to the shell, and the chick remains confined, 

 and must perish unless released. 



The METHOD of assistance is, to take 

 the egg in hand, and dipping the finger or 

 a piece of linen, in warm water, apply it 

 to the fastened parts, until they are loose- 

 ned, by the gluey substance being dissolv- 

 ed and separated from the feathers ; the 

 chick then being returned to the nest, will 

 extricate itself, a mode generally to be ob- 

 served, since violence used would often be 

 fatal, Mevertheless, breaking tlie shell 

 may sometimes be necessary, and tearing 

 with the fingers as gently as may be, the 

 ttiembrane from the feathers, which are 



