The Eve of Hatching. 



57 



are yet evidently " full," on no account interfere with them — about the most insane thing a breeder 

 can do. We could never understand what could possibly induce a person to do such a thing. To 

 break a shell is to kill the young bird, if alive, to a certainty, and the breeder is not any the better 

 off for indulging his impatient curiosity, except as the knowledge he has obtained about that one 

 t.g% may make him still more curious as to the others. Note that the first nests in the season are 

 nearly always a day late in chipping, and very frequently as much as two or three days, probably 

 arising from the hen not having got the steam up to high pressure when commencing to sit ; the 

 exercise of a little extra patience at this time is imperative. 



