104 Hatching. 



where the heat was greatest. Or, with 

 equal probability, the heat might be some- 

 times too great in the centre, and occasion 

 instant destruction to the nascent beinij; in 

 the shell. As the chickens advance in 

 growth, the covering of flannel should be 

 made lighter, and on the expectation of 

 hatching, it must be reduced to a very thin 

 covering, that nothing may press upon the 

 eggs to impede the efforts of the chickens. 

 We obtained between thirty and forty chick- 

 ens, from about forty- five eggs, all in good 

 health, two excepted, which being weak, 

 required assistance to be released, and sur- 

 vived only a day or two. 



The brood placed in a basket of soft 

 hay, and covered with flannel, were com- 

 mitted to the same chimney, the charcoal 

 still burning. This was continued a day or 

 two, the degree of heat considerably re- 

 duced, until they required feeding. Ma- 

 king a noise with the finger nails against a 

 board, upon which the chicks were placed, 

 in imitation of the pecking of the hen 

 mother, first taught them to peck at their 



