170 POULTRY DISEASES 



bones of the cliicken and are attached by liga- 

 ments to the other bones of the pelvis from which 

 they extend. The exact location of these bones 

 in a laying hen are illustrated in a skiagraph, Fig. 

 52. By a little practice these bones can be located. 

 In non-la^'ing hens these bones are found close 

 together, so that perhaps only one finger can be 

 introduced between them. As the hen begins to 



Fig. 51. Skiagraph of Posterior Part of Abdomen of a Hen 



A, Functionating (active) ovary. B, egg in posterior part of egg 

 canal (fully developed). C, femur (thigh bone). D, tibia (leg bone). 



enter a laying period they become more widely 

 separated, until instead of being only a finger's 

 breadth apart, two, three and at times even four 

 fingers can be forced between them. As the lay- 

 ing period comes on the ligaments relax and allow 

 the necessary separation to permit the passage of 

 the egg. It will be noted, also by referring to 

 Plate I, that the ovary lies against the backbone 



