62 OUP. DOMFSTIC FOWLS. 



for the increase of vermin. The boxes or 

 baskets in which the hens incubate should be 

 as sechided as possible, and free from intrusion. 

 The number of eggs may vary from twelve to 

 sixteen, but should never exceed the latter; 

 they should not be stirred, except by the 

 hen, and more especially when incubation 

 has proceeded for some time, lest the position 

 of the chick be interfered with, for if taken 

 up a little time before the exit of the chick, 

 and incautiously replaced with the large end 

 lowermost, the chick from its position will not 

 be able to chip the shell, and must, therefore, 

 perish. The forepart of the chick, be it 

 observed, is towards the biggest end of the 

 eggs, and it is so placed in the shell that the 

 beak is always uppermost. Yet doubled up 

 as the chick is in its close prison, it is enabled 

 by its efforts to break the shell at the appointed 

 time, and to this end its yet soft beak is fur- 

 nished just above the point of the upper man- 

 dible with a small, hard, horny scale,* which, 

 from the position of the head, as Mr. Yarrell 

 observes, is brought in contact with the 

 inner surface of the shell. The position of 



* This little Iiorny scale in the course of a short time peelj 

 off, but may be always seen on the beaks of newly-hatched 

 chickens. 



