INCUBATION. 225 



Other chicks, again, though sufficiently strong, and enclosed 

 in a shell of the usual thickness, are unable to make their way 

 out, even when a breach in the shell is made for them, in con- 

 sequence of some unknown cause depriving them of the power 

 of turning on their own bodies ; and by remaining in the same 

 position, they become glued to the shell. 



The signs that a chicken is in thisjcondition, in which he 

 needs must die, if not assisted, are, when aiarge fracture that 

 has been made in a shell, together with a rending of the mem- 

 brane, remains the same for five or six hours, and is not enlarged. 

 It may be concluded from this that the chicken adheres to the 

 inside of the egg. We must not hesitate, in that case, to do for 

 the chicken what he would infallibly do, were he not deprived 

 of all liberty of acting. We may often, without any danger to 

 the chicken, tear the membrane round the whole circumference 

 of the egg, with the nails or with the fingers, by making the 

 gentlest efforts to take off the fore-part of the shell, which is 

 already separated from the other by the fracture ; the membrane 

 that sticks to it is torn by the efforts thus made against it. 

 But generally we ought not to attempt to break off all at once 

 the whole fore-part of the shell ; and the resistance experienced 

 in that case is a sufficient warning that we cannot do it without 

 causing an excessive pain to the chicken." Dickson. 



Mr. Richardson says, " Sometimes a few scales of albumen, 

 or of the lining membrane of the egg, may remain on the bird's 

 plumage for some days. Do not be uneasy about them. Leave 

 them alone, and as they dry they will fall off of themselves. 

 In affording your assistance to the embarrassed chick, be ex- 

 tremely tender with your fingers. You may otherwise often 

 kill, when your intention is only to cure. For my own part, 

 my confidence in the unassisted powers of nature is such, that 

 I would be disposed to permit at least eight hours to elapse 

 before I resorted to mechanical means of interference. A chick, 



