PHEASANTS: IN PEACE 121 



to the abnormally long attempt to hatch them made 

 by domestic sitters. Look into the state of things 

 from the imprisoned chick's point of view. Escape 

 from the egg is due solely to the exertions of the 

 chick the weaker it is, the less strength it has to 

 make the necessary exertions. But the drier and 

 more brittle the outside wall of shell is rather than 

 moist and tough the easier it is to break ; and, 

 conversely, the drier the inside membranous bag 

 which encloses the chick, the tougher it becomes, 

 and the harder to burst or tear. A chick is ready to 

 escape from the shell directly the process of absorb- 

 ing the yolk is completed. If it does not escape in 

 due time, while the membrane is moist and easily 

 rent, what happens ? Why, owing to the admission 

 of air through the 'chip-hole,' the membrane dries, 

 toughens, and shrivels about the chick, which 

 perishes, and the shell, which cannot shrink, peels 

 off in pieces. Thus we have, I think, the true ex- 

 planation of that trouble for which many of us have 

 hoped there was a remedy other than prevention. 



