STUDY OF SELECTIONS FOR SIZE, SHAPE, AND COLOR OF HENS' EGGS 259 



Shape character 



In order to study the relative monthly and yearly shapes of eggs pro- 

 duced, the data for shape selection were prepared for figures 32 to 35 in 

 the same way that the data for size selection were prepared for figures 

 28 to 31. There is shown a tendency for the eggs produced each year, 

 even in the pullet year, to have a gradually increasing index until the 

 fifth or sixth month of production, after which this index gradually decreases 

 until the season's production ceases (fig. 32). 



Index 



Month 1st 



llth 



FlG. 32. MONTHLY VARIATION IN SHAPE OF EGGS PRODUCED DURING A PERIOD OF SIX 



YEARS 



The figures in parenthesis designate the number of birds available for the respective calculations 



According to figure 32, the eggs produced during the pullet year are 

 of practically the same shape as those produced in later years. The 

 difference may be considered insignificant. The reader should be warned 

 against erroneous interpretation of the fifth and sixth years' production 

 shown in figure 33, because of the very few individuals available for study 

 for those years. 



As indicated in figure 34, there seems to be no radical difference between 

 the variation of the groupings according to the life means of the birds. 

 Where slight differences are shown, these may usually be considered as 

 being due to an insufficient number of individuals available for study. 



The five birds recorded in figure 35 showed no distinct character different 

 from those shown in figures 32 to 34. 



