48 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 
Fig. 30. The egg is so held that the hand cuts off all 
direct rays of light from the eye, except those passing 
through the egg. The egg may be 
held toward the sun, or, better, tow- 
_ard the light from a lighted candle 
or lamp in a dark room. Egg-test- 
ers are made in which more than one 
egg may be examined at once. A 
\ small box, either of wood or paste- 
\ board, is used, with a number of 
“‘egg-holes” cut in the cover. A 
mirror is placed within, set at a 
slant towards one side of the box, 
which is cut away: for observation. If the interior 
of the box is painted black, the 
effect will be better. The quality 
of the eggs is determined by their 
degree of clearness. A fresh egg 
shows a clear, reddish, translucent 
light; an egg fit, perhaps, for cook- 
ing, but not for hatching, a less 
clear light. 
The accompanying engraving 
(Fig. 31) represents a contrivance 
for testing the freshness or fertility 
of eggs, useful in the household or 
to the poultry-fancier. It consists 
of a small handle, with a cup in the 
end of it; around the cup is fast- 
ened a frame of sheet-tin or stiff 
card-board. This frame has a hole 
in the center, of the shape and size 
of an egg, and a strip of black 
ribbon or cloth is fastened around 
the frame, projecting a little beyond the inner edge. 
To test the egg, if, is placed in the cup, so as to fill 
Fig. 31. 
