FOR INCUBATION. 115 



principle of life becomes so feeble as to be almost unavailable 

 for practical purposes. The chicks in stale Eggs have not 

 sufficient strength to extricate themselves from the shell; if 

 assisted, the yolk is found to be only partially absorbed into 

 the abdomen, or not at all; they are too faint to stand, the 

 muscles of the neck are unable to lift their heads, much less 

 to peck; and although they may sometimes be saved by 

 extreme care, their usual fate is to be trampled to death by 

 their mother, if they do not expire almost as soon as they 

 begin to draw their breath. Thick-shelled Eggs, like those 

 of Greese, Guinea-fowl, &c., will retain life longer than thin- 

 shelled ones, as those of Hens and Ducks. Those who are 

 anxious to secure a valuable variety, one chicken of which is 

 worth a whole brood of ordinary sorts, will run all risks; 

 after seven or eight weeks their chance is not utterly gone. 

 Some of the chicks will be found dead in the shell, but those 

 that are hatched, if they survive the first eight-and-forty hours 

 the great difficulty are not afterwards more weakly or 

 troublesome than others. In the mean while, air should be 

 excluded from the Egg as much as possible : it is best to set 

 them on end, and not to suffer them to lie and roll on the 

 side. Dry sand or hard-wood sawdust (not deal, on account 

 of the turpentine) is the best packing. But when choice Eggs 

 are expected, it is more prudent to have a Hen waiting for 

 them than to let them wait for her. A good sitter may be 

 amused for two or three weeks with a few addle-eggs, and so 

 be ready to take charge of those of value immediately upon 

 their arrival. 



Eggs sent any distance to be hatched, should be tightly 

 inclosed in a wooden box, and arranged so as neither to touch 

 each other, nor the sides of the box. An oyster-barrel answers 

 excellently for a small number. Mr. Cantelo, in his pamphlet, 

 has recommended oats as a packing, and no doubt they form 

 an excellent vehicle, taking little time to pack, filling all inter- 



