CHAPTER V 



THE EGG 

 (Continued) 



T ET us return to the hen. We know the calcare- 

 I 1 ous nature of the shell; now let us look at the 

 structure. Open your eyes wide and look atten- 

 tively; you will see on the shell, chiefly at the large 

 end, a multitude of tiny dents such as might be made 

 by the point of a fine needle. Each of these dents 

 corresponds to an invisible hole that pierces the shell 

 through and through and establishes communication 

 between the interior and the exterior. These holes, 

 much too small to let out the liquid contents of the 

 egg, nevertheless suffice both for the emission of hu- 

 mid vapors, which are dissipated outside the shell, 

 and for the admission of air, which penetrates within 

 and replaces the evaporated humidity. 



"The presence of these innumerable openings is 

 absolutely necessary for the awakening and keeping 

 up of life in the future chicken. Every living thing 

 breathes, and all life springs into being and con- 

 tinues through the action of air. The seed that ger- 

 minates under ground must have air. Planted 

 too deep, it perishes sooner or later without being 

 able to rise, because the thick bed of earth prevents 



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