64 



THE AMERICAN BREEDS OE POULTRY 



capacity, the abdomen is rather soft and pliable like the udder of a 

 cow after milking. 



The bony structure of the pelvis should also be considered. Lay- 

 bones in strictly egg-type females run from about % inch in thick- 

 ness to about y$ inch. Over this and up to 1 inch and even \ l / 2 inch 

 is the beef type. However, a flock of White Plymouth Rock hens 



Four fingers capacity. If coupled with this capacity, the abdomen 

 is soft and pliable like the udder of a cow that has been milked, and 

 the pelvic bones are reasonably thin and flexible, this is a satisfactory 

 hen to keep. 



can be graded too closely on the laybone test, because the females 

 of a large breed of this kind seem to naturally carry a somewhat 

 heavier bone. A safe rule is that the laybone should tend to thin- 

 ness. They should be straight out and rather pliable when the tip 

 ends of the two bones are gently pressed together. When a hen lays 



