116 EGGS: THEIR PRESERVATION 



slices, and moreover being useful at the journey's end. The 

 Eggs should be shaken as little as possible, for fear of rupturing 

 the ligaments by which the yolk is "suspended in the centre of 

 the Egg, and mixing the two strata of albumen surrounding 

 it and letting the yolk loose. Nor should they be suffered to 

 come in contact with any greasy substance that would close 

 the pores of the shell, so as to exclude air from the chick. 

 But my own experience of Eggs for hatching received from 

 any long distance, is so utterly discouraging, as to forbid all 

 future attempts, unless the parcel can be carefully brought by 

 hand. However well packed, they get so recklessly knocked 

 about by the superabundant strength and activity of the rail- 

 way porters, who would handle a box of Eggs and a box of ten- 

 penny nails exactly in the same manner, that, at the end of a 

 couple of hundred miles, and after shifting carriages three or 

 four times, the germs of the Eggs are as completely destroyed 

 by the concussion, as if they had been baked or boiled into 

 custards. Mr. Cantelo advises, ''should any valuable or rare 

 Egg have a defect in the shell, it may be worth while to gum 

 a piece of paper over the part affected, as it is through the 

 extra-evaporation that it would otherwise fail in hatching." 

 The following case, which has been communicated to me, is a 

 practical commentary. "A Duck's egg was broken at the 

 small end by a careless Hen when within a week of hatching. 

 Perceiving that the inhabitant within was a fine lively fellow, 

 I closed it , over well with wax, and returned it to the nest. 

 At the proper time the duckling came out lively enough, and 

 proved the best of the brood." The same gentleman (H. H.) 

 experienced another curious instance of difficulty in hatching. 

 " A young pigeon was unable, for reasons best known to him- 

 self, to get more than his head and shoulders out of the egg. 

 In this state he remained for days, the parts not growing, and 

 the old birds still feeding him ! I released him afterwards, 

 but he did not do nearly so well then, and soon died." 



