CO Assisting the C/dcJcen. 



From the multitude of their branchlets these down feathers 

 resemble minute shrubs ; when, however, these branchlets 

 are wet and sticking to each other, they take up but very 

 little room ; as they dry they become disentangled and sepa- 

 rated. The branchlets, plumules, or beards of each feather 

 are at first enclosed in a membranous tube, by which they 

 are pressed and kept close together ; but as soon as this 

 dries it splits asunder, an effect assisted also by the elas- 

 ticity of the plumules themselves, which causes them to 

 recede and spread themselves out. This being accom- 

 plished, each down feather extends over a considerable 

 space, and when they all become dry and straight, the 

 chick appears completely clothed in a warm vestment of 

 soft down." 



If they are not out in a few hours after the shell has been 

 broken, and the hole is not enlarged, they are probably glued 

 to the shell. Look through the egg then, and, if all the 

 yolk has passed into the body of the chicken, you may assist 

 it by enlarging the fracture with a pair of fine scissors, 

 cutting up towards the large end of the egg, never down- 

 wards. " If," says Miss Watts, " the time has arrived when 

 the chicken may with safety be liberated, there will be no 

 appearance of blood in the minute blood-vessels spread 

 over the interior of the shell ; they have done their work, 

 and are no longer needed by the now fully developed and 

 breathing chick. If there should be the slightest appearance 

 of blood, resist at once, for its escape would generally 

 be fatal. Do not attempt to let the chicken out at once, 

 but help it a little every two or three hours. The object 

 is not to hurry the chicken out of its shell, but to prevent 

 its being suffocated by being close shut up within it. If 

 the chick is tolerably strong, and the assistance needful, it 

 will aid its deliverance with its own exertions." When 

 the chicken at last makes its way out, do not interfere with 

 it in any way, or attempt to feed it. Animal heat alone can 

 restore it. Weakness has caused the delay, and this has 

 probably arisen from insufficient warmth, perhaps from the 

 hen having had too many eggs to cover thoroughly, or 

 they may have been stale when set. Should you have 



