HATCHING AND EEABING. 47 



There is another type of machine, made upon what 

 is known as the hot-air principle, no tank being 

 employed. The oldest of these upon our market is 

 the "Westmeria," made by the Westmeria Co., of 

 Leighton Buzzard, a well-made incubator, and which 

 has at some of the leading shows beaten the record 

 by hatching a high percentage of chickens. It 

 is made upon different principles from those noted 

 before, and is regulated by a thermostat. In this case 

 the eggs are laid upon rollers, which being connected 

 with knobs outside, it is only necessary to give each 

 half a turn and the eggs revolve correspondingly. 



Recently there has been brought out another 

 machine, also upon the hot-air principle, which is 

 distinct from any of its rivals. It is known as the 

 " Forester," and is made by Messrs. J. F. A. 

 Roberts and Co., of Lyndhurst, New Forest. It is 

 well made, excellently finished in every part, and 

 remarkably cheap, a machine holding 48 eggs 

 costing only 52s. 6d. The regulator is good, and is 

 made to determine the escape of surplus heat in 

 accordance with the temperature of the egg chamber. 

 The hd consists of a frame in which glass is inserted, 

 and thus all the operations therein can be observed. 

 The eggs are laid upon wood matting, connected with 

 rods, and can be turned with the greatest facility, 

 without the operator touching a single egg — a most 

 ingenious and desirable arrangement. Of course hot- 

 air machines require careful attention, because if the 

 lamp goes out or is permitted to smoke, there is greater 

 danger than with tank machines, and it is most 

 important, though the same applies to all kinds of 



