CHAP. IV ] FARMING FOR LADIES. 113 



tion with apparent ease, bursting from their 

 confinement within a few hours ; while others, 

 either from the greater hardness of some 

 shells, or from their own comparative weak- 

 ness, will unceasingly continue working during 

 a day and night without being able to effect 

 their object. When this happens, inexperi- 

 enced persons think it necessary to break the 

 shell, in order to assist the chick in coming 

 out ; but if it be unable to extricate itself, it 

 will be found so puny as to be seldom worth 

 preserving : and — as another reason for not 

 hastening its birth — if removed from the shell 

 before the whole of the yolk is absorbed into 

 the abdomen, the chick will assuredly die. 



It may perhaps occasion surprise that the 

 hen does not herself break the shell : but 

 nature providently leaves her either unaware 

 of her power to do so, or makes her instinct- 

 tively cautious of using it ; lest the chick 

 should thus be immaturely brought to life be- 

 fore the whole of the yolk has been consumed. 

 If, however, means are tried, they should be 

 done by very gently cracking the shell with a 

 slight stroke of any hard substance, for tlie least 

 violence will kill the little thing in its then 



