THE EGG. 15 



apon the cold charities of the world. The egg of a 

 bird, or a reptile, is expelled as soon as it is perfectly 

 formed, and the germ of life within it is awakened or 

 destroyed by surrounding conditions. 



The application of heat, 100 degrees to 103 

 degrees Fahrenheit, to the egg of the domestic fowl 

 will cause the germ within to begin a process of trans- 

 formation. Within twenty-four hours after incubation 

 begins, an examination will show a zone of small 

 blood vessels formed around this germ. After three 

 days a temporary membrane begins to form inside of 

 the shell membranes. This new membrane serves as 

 lungs to the growing embryo ; into its numerous hair- 

 like vessels the contents of the egg are absorbed and 

 changed into blood. This blood is exposed to the 

 oxygen of the air that enters through the pores of the 

 shell, and thus, purified and vitalized, returns to the 

 centre of life, circulation is established and develop- 

 ment proceeds rapidly until the entire egg is absorbed 

 and transformed into a creature having various organs 

 and a conscious life. 



The different stages in the process of development 

 above described, may be observed by breaking eggs 

 that have been exposed for different periods to the 

 proper conditions for incubation. 



The contents should be turned out into a saucer, 

 great care being taken not to rupture the delicate 

 membranes that are forming. A good hand reading 

 glass will greatly aid in making this examination. 



As breaking the egg destroys the embryo, this 

 method of examination is useful only to train the eye 

 and judgment of the observer to examine the embryo 



