THE PIGEON BOOK 65 



capsule containing a quarter of a grain of quinine, as good 

 as anything. 



As a tonic these capsules will be found very useful at 

 all times. 



Hard-shelled Eggs. 



These arise through the egg remaining in the shell- 

 forming portion of the oviduct too long. They are more 

 frequent in the early part of the year than at a later period, 

 and unless nature is assisted the embyrd contained in such 

 eggs as these will not break the shell but die in its prison. 

 I have known the whole of the first round of eggs fail to 

 hatch from this cause. The second, the birds being in 

 better condition, lay the eggs more readily, and they 

 naturally hatch. Should a fancier have the least sus- 

 picion that trouble in hatching is likely to arise, the best 

 plan about four or five days before the dale the eggs are 

 due to hatch is to moisten the eggs twice each day with a 

 little warm water. This softens the membrane lining to 

 the shell, as well as the shell, but without this assistance 

 given in time the hatching of hard-shelled eggs will be a 

 complete failure. 



Birds in health should expel the eggs without difficulty 

 even early in the year. If the eggs are laid about eight 

 days after mating takes place, and the majority of birds 

 lay with regularity, hard-shelled eggs and their failure 

 to hatch need not be feared ; but if the laying is irregular 

 and beyond the normal period, and a fancier has previously 

 had any trouble in the hatching of the first round, he 

 should adopt the course I have suggested. 



Megrims. 



This disease is hardly so common amongst some of the 

 hardy varieties as it is amongst closely in-bred stock of the 

 fancy varieties that are frequently being penned at shows, 



