CURIOUS POSITION OF EGGS. 305 



to assign a reason for it." Reaumur long since 

 noticed the same fact, and gives the following 

 explanation of it. He says it happens very often, 

 that the portion of the shell alluded to is placed 

 in a very extraordinary manner. We may look 

 for it, but unless we know where to look, we shall 

 probably not find it. It lies within the hind part, 

 just as we ourselves often put one empty cup 

 within another. When the chicken is just born, 

 the fore part of the shell 

 stands before him, and he 

 pushes it back with his feet 

 without any intention or need 

 to do so, and thus pushes it 

 into the other, whose cavity 

 lies ready to receive it. The 

 cut represents the two pieces 

 of the shell in this position. 



The conduct of birds during incubation has 

 been already adverted to ; but it may not be out of 

 place to give here a singular account of a turkey- 

 hen, related by the last-named naturalist. He 

 says that there are no fowls so perseveringly will- 

 ing to sit as these ; and he made the attempt to 

 turn this inclination to some account for the 



