46 Packing Eggs for Setting. 



distinctly visible, either in the centre of the top of the egg, 

 or slightly to the side, when the egg is held between the 

 eye and a lighted candle, in a darkened room. Reject 

 very small eggs, which generally have no yolk, those that 

 are ill-shaped, and those of equal thickness at both ends, 

 which latter is the usual shape of eggs with double yolks. 

 These should be avoided, as they are apt generally to prove 

 unfertile, or produce monstrosities. 



It has been stated that the sex of the embryo chicken 

 can be ascertained by the position of the air-vessel ; that if 

 it be on the top the egg will produce a cockerel, and if on 

 the side a pullet; but there is no proof of the truth of 

 this, and, notwithstanding such assertions, it appears to be 

 impossible to foretell the sex of the chick, from the shape of 

 the egg or in any other way. 



In selecting eggs for the purpose of producing fowls 

 that are to be kept for laying only, being non-sitters, 

 choose eggs only from those hens that are prolific layers, 

 for prolific laying is often as characteristic of some fowls of 

 a breed as it is of the particular breeds, and by careful 

 selection this faculty, like others, may be further developed, 

 or continued if already fully developed. 



If carefully packed, eggs for setting may be carried 

 great distances hundreds and even thousands of miles 

 without injury ; vibration and even moderate shaking, and 

 very considerable changes of temperature, producing no ill 

 effect upon the germ. The chief point is to prevent the 

 escape of moisture by evaporation, and consequent admis- 

 sion of air. A hamper travels with less vibration than a 

 box, and is therefore preferable, especially for a long 

 journey. They should be packed in hay, by which they 

 will be preserved from breakage much better than by being 

 packed in short, close material like bran, chaff, oats, or 

 sawdust; these being shaken into smaller space by the 

 vibration of travelling, the eggs often strike and crack each 

 other. The hamper or box should be large enough to 

 admit of some soft, yielding packing material being placed 

 all round the eggs. The bottom should be first covered 

 with a good layer of hay, straw, or moss. It is a good 



