20 THE PIGEON BOOK 



are in good wing and feather as late as possible in the 

 season. 



The moult is a matter of so great importance that I 

 have dealt with it in a separate chapter. 



Pigeons lay two eggs. In the case of hardy birds, the 

 usual period at which the eggs are laid is eight days after 

 being mated. The first egg is usually laid in the evening 

 between five and six o'clock, and the second egg about 

 forty-two hours afterwards. When the first egg is laid 

 the hen stands over the egg at night, and when she is off 

 the nest the cock takes her place. Incubation imme- 

 diately commences from the laying of the second egg. 

 The hen is answerable for the greater part of incubation. 

 She sits generally from three o'clock in the afternoon until 

 eight or nine in the morning. The period slightly varies 

 in individuals, but usually you will find all the cocks 

 covering the nest from about lo a.m. until three o'clock 

 or a little later. Sixteen days after the laying of the 

 second egg the live embryo should emerge from the shell. 



Within a few days after incubation has commenced it 

 is easy to perceive if the eggs are fertile. 



Without fertilisation the eggs remain clear. The cause 

 of non-fertilisation may be old age, sterility, or imma- 

 turity. Overshowing in the case of exhibition birds will 

 often result in many unfertile eggs being laid. The 

 fertilised egg becomes opaque in colour, and the gradual 

 growth of the embryo can be seen through the shell. The 

 accompanying illustrations will be useful to the novice in 

 order that he may be able to trace the egg in its different 

 stages of incubation. 



(i) Denotes the appearance of the egg after six days' 

 incubation. It will be seen that the embryo has some 

 what the appearance of a spider and its web. 



