282 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



teria to the yolk or germ cell. The oviduct appears to be 

 germ-proof and the albumin to have certain bactericidal 

 properties. 



The Yolk has a lower specific gravity than the albumin 

 and will be found floating near the side of the egg upper- 

 most, with the germ cell on the upper side of the yolk. 

 This brings the germ cell always near the source of heat 

 during incubation. Should the egg remain long in one 



PARTS OF A FRESH EGG 



position without turning, the albumin becomes thinner and 

 the yolk will adhere to the shell. This is fatal to the 

 embryo. 



There are two layers of shell membrane, the inner and 

 outer. The inner layer lies next to the albumin and the 

 thicker outer one next to the shell. After being laid, the 

 egg contents contract, and at the large end the inner layer 

 draws away from the outer, causing the air space. 



The Shell, which forms about 11% of the weight of the 

 egg, plays an important part in the embryonic develop- 

 ment of the chick. Until recently the shell was supposed 



