88 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



lUK.'lei migrate as tlidiiuli rt'pellcil from the center toward 

 the mar<;in. 



"After entering,' the iiifiiiKlihiihtni (fiiiiiiel) the yolk remains 

 in the so-called aUmmen portion of the oviduct about three 

 hours and in this time accjuires onl.y about 40 to 50 per cent 

 l\v weight of its total alliumen. During its sojourn in the 

 alliumen portion of the duct the egg acquires the chalazie 

 and chalaziferous layer, the dense albumen layer, and (if 

 such a layer exists as a distinct entity, about which there is 

 some doubt) the inner fluid layer of albumen."^ 



This albumen has a decided bactericidal property which is 

 highly important. "Without this defensive agency the 

 o\iduct and therefore the eggs would be very liable to infec- 

 tion from microorganisms by way of the cloaca. Such an 

 infection would be \ery likely to greatly decrease the hatching 

 power of the eggs."- 



"The contents of normal fresh eggs are as a rule sterile. 

 It is cjiiite probable that an egg yolk may become invaded 

 before it lea\'es the ovary; but this is apparently an uncom- 

 mon occurrence, except when the ovary is infected with the 

 organism of bacillary white diarrhea. Little if any infection 

 takes place in the o\iduct while tlie white and shell are being 

 deposited."' 



B}' the peristaltic contractions of the oviduct just back 

 of it, the egg is forced through the remaining sections of the 

 oviduct. " Upon entering the isthmus, in passing through 

 which i)ortion of the duct something under an hour's time 

 is occupied instead of three hours, as has been previously 

 maintained, the egg receives its shell membranes by a ]5ro- 

 cess of discrete deposition. At the same time, and during 

 the sojourn of the egg in the uterus, it receives its outer layer 

 of fluid or thin albiunen, which is by weight 50 to 60 per cent 

 of the total all)umen. This thin albumen is taken by osmosis 

 through the shell membranes already formed. \\ hen it 

 enters the egg in this -way it is much more fluid than the tliin 

 albumen of the laid egg. The fluid albumen added in this 



' Pearl and Curtis, .Journal Experimental Zuolngy, vol. xii, No. 1. 

 - Lillie. Tire Development of the Cliiek. 

 ■' Rettf;er, Storra Bulletin No. 75. 



