216 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



examination of his stock, it appeared that the largest eggs 

 weighed twenty-four ounces per dozen, and the smallest only 

 weighed fourteen and a Jialf ounces per dozen ! In the one case, 

 therefore, a fraction over eleven eggs would equal the aver- 

 age weight of a dozen, and in the other, it would require over 

 eighteen eggs to reach the proper weight. It appeared, to 

 mutual astonishment, that the difference in weight between the 

 two kinds was about one half, while the price of both was the 

 same. 



It will be seen, by reference to the description of the Plym- 

 outh Rock fowls in this work, that Mr. Harris' largest eggs, 

 of that breed, weighed nineteen and a half ounces per half 

 dozen, or thirty-nine ounces per dozen ; and his smallest, thir- 

 teen and a half ounces per half dozen, equal to twenty-seven 

 ounces per dozen averaging thirty-three ounces per dozen, 

 which is ten and a half ounces over the usual weight. Eight 

 of such eggs, therefore, would be equivalent to a dozen, by 

 weight, of the common sort. 



A gentleman of Plymouth, some years since, called on a 

 provision dealer, and inquired the price of eggs. In this 

 instance, he was told that the price varied in proportion to the 

 size. The eggs which were contained in one basket, which 

 was pointed out, were to be sold for ten cents a dozen, and those 

 in -another, twelve and a half cents. The purchaser was vexed 

 at this, as something unusual ; and asserting that " an egg was 

 an egg, the world over," declared that he would buy only 

 where he could obtain them indiscriminately at ten cents, the 

 then common market price. He made his purchase elsewhere, 

 and returned, boasting that he had bought eggs for ten cents 

 as good as his friend could furnish for twelve and a half. The 

 dealer offered to test the matter by weight. This was agreed 

 to, as the best means of settling the dispute. The result was, 

 that six of the dealer's eggs weighed down eleven of the pur- 



