ORDER GALLING. 199 



nature has designed them for, often determine them to go 

 and hatch somewhere in secret. After this, they return, as it 

 were in triumph, to the poultry-yard, at the head of a troop 

 of little chickens, which are in a much better condition than 

 those which are hatched by a hen selected for the purpose, 

 and receive all the attention which the most intelligent 

 attendant can bestow. 



Hens have been known to go and make their nests in a 

 park, lay and hatch there, and establish themselves with their 

 families and become wild. They are then covered with more 

 abundant plumage, lay less frequently, their flesh is less 

 tender, but higher flavoured. They remain faithful to their 

 cocks until the latter die, and then mix with the pheasants, 

 and produce mules. 



Many authors have written on that curious subject, the 

 development of the foetus in the egg, among whom Haller 

 has entered into many minute details upon its progress. The 

 result of the observations of this great man we present to 

 our readers in a condensed form. 



At the end of twelve hours the commencement of organiza- 

 tion is already perceptible in that little spot, which is named 

 the cicatricula, and which is placed over the globe of the 

 yolk, and always, by a peculiar mechanism, at its upper part, 

 whatever may be the position of the egg in the centre of 

 which this globe is suspended. 



The parts of the foetus which were invisible before incu- 

 bation, in consequence of their exiguity, their fluidity, and 

 transparence, gradually acquire the consistence which is requi- 

 site for them. Thus those which are destined to be solid, as 

 the bones for example, become gelatinous, membranous, and 

 cartilaginous, before they are ossified. 



According to their development, some being quicker, and 

 others slower, in proportion to their importance in the organi- 

 zation of the bird, they lose more or less promptly their 



