86 



POULTRY PRODUCTION 



connection between tlie o^■i(hlct and the o\-ar}-, and Lillie' 

 adds that "The existence of double-yolked eggs renders 

 it probable that the oviduct can pick up eggs that ha^•e 

 escaped into the body cavity." 



Fio. 



The oviduct of a hen in full laying, shon-ing the funnel at flic upper part 

 of the photograph. (Courtesy of Raymond Pearl) 



According to .Surface- tlie oviduct is divided into five 

 more or less clearly dcfinctl regions. Beginning at the end 

 nearest the ovary, these are: (1) the funnel; (2j the albumen 

 secreting portion; (3) the isthmus, which secretes the shell 

 membrane; (4) the uterus or shell gland; i:")) the vagina, 

 which leads into the cloacal opening. 



Formation and Fertilization of the Egg. '^ — In the formation of 

 an egg, the yolk comes to its full size in the (>\ary. i.'-'ec 

 Figure S2, page 177.) It starts as a tiny splicrc not visiltle 

 to the unaided e.ye. Its nucleus, which marks ihc point of 

 the (le\'elo])ment of the embryo chick after fertili/atinn, is in 



' Development of the Chick. ' Maine Bulletin No. 206. 



' Lihie's description in "The Development of the Chick" is followed. 



