22 



MAINE .AGRICULTURAI, KXPERIMKMT STATION. 



Hozv Many Bags Can a Hen Lay? 



In connection with the studies on breeding for &gg produc- 

 tion an anatomical study has been made of the potentiaHties 

 of hens in regard to production. The eggs which a hen can by 

 any possibility lay are limited by the number she carries in her 

 body in the ovary or Qgg cluster. Hov/ many of these primi- 

 tive eggs does an ordinary hen have? The following table 

 shows the results of some counts which have been made in 

 this department of the primitive egg visible to the naked eye, 

 in various individuals. 



Bird 



No. 



Breed. 



Total Number of 

 Eggs Laid in Life. 



Actual Winter 

 Production. 



Total Visible 

 Primitive Eggs 

 on the Ovary. 



8021. 

 8017. 

 8030. 

 8005. 

 1367. 

 8018. 

 8009. 

 8010. 

 425. 

 3546 





Barred Ply. Rock 



Barred Ply. Rock 



Barred Ply. Rock 



Barred Ply. Rock 



Barred Ply. Rock 



Barred Ply. Rock 



Barred Ply. Rock 



Barred Ply. Rock 



Barred Ply. Rock 



10 

 10 

 7 

 17 

 34 

 16 

 15 

 19 

 23 

 198 



3 











5 



3 











5 







54 



32 











13 



106 



1,228 

 1,666 

 914 

 1,174 

 2,306 

 1,194 

 2,101 

 1,576 

 1,521 

 2 462 



2067. 

 3453. 

 3833. 



52. 



71. 



White Leghorn 



White Leghorn 



White Leghorn 



Cornish Ind. Game. . . . 

 Fl Cross 



197 



10 



2 



52 



124 



3,605 

 1,701 

 2,145 

 1 ,550 

 2,000 







765 







586 











It is evident that the potentialities in respect to production 

 far outrun the actually realized laying. Laying is a physiolog- 

 ical matter rather than an anatomical. All hens, whether good 

 or poor layers, have a vast lot more eggs available for laying 

 than they ever actually lay. 



The Function of the Comb and Wattles of Poultry. 



Curiosity is often expressed by the poultry man as to the 

 practical utility to the bird, or to himself as a poultryman, of 

 the comb and wattles of fowls. The following brief discussion 

 of the subject was prepared for the purpose of answering such 

 inquiries. 



The comb and wattles of poultry are what are known to the 

 biologist as secondary sexual characters. According to Dar- 

 win's theory of sexual selection the original purpose and func- 

 tion of these structures was to make the male conspicuous an"-! 



