228 POULTRY BREEDING 
LAYING HENS, HOW TO SELECT.—While no 
given laying type of hen has ever been found, pirereby 
certainty can be assured, some general/ principlds may 
be applied with considerable chance of guessing. cor- 
rectly. A good-laying hen usually has a cosh’ rather 
larger than the average of her breed; the gémb is bright 
red; the eye bright; neck rather longer ‘than the aver- 
; breast broad sod somewhat receding from top to 
on back long and wider at hips than’ shoulders; 
ainioenar deep, the lower line being lower than the lower 
line of the breast; tail well spread; legs wide apart. An 
examination of the pelvic bones will show that those of 
a good layer are far apart. The pelvic bones are the two 
rather pointed bones which may be felt in the rear of 
body just below and at each side of the vent. Ina laying 
hen the points of these bones will be wide apart. If they 
are close together the hen is not laying and the chances 
are that she is not a good layer. If three fingers can bé 
laid between the points of these bones the hen may be 
taken for a good layer. A good layer, even when not 
laying, shows the pelvic bones well apart, although not 
so far as they will be when she is in full lay. If the bones 
are close together and hard to press apart the chances 
are that the hen is a very poor layer. 
LICE AND MITES.—Lice and mites cause a great 
deal of loss to poultrymen. Lice and mites are respon- 
sible for more loss than all diseases combined. This is 
not a startling statement to those who understand the 
extent of the ravages of insect pests. Three kinds of lice 
live on poultry, completing their whole life cycle on the 
bodies of their hosts. The common hen louse is very 
active and dull yellow in color, It has six legs and its 
head is rounded in front. During the night the lice move 
