150 



POVLrUY PRODUCTION 



When hiA iiiK stops, tlic )ii;;iiK'nt rciii)])rars in tlie several 

 regions in the same order in wliieh it (lisapi)eared. The 

 rehitive ra])iility of loss and regain in the various parts is 

 probably eorrelated witli tlie thickness of the skin, the pig- 

 ment change being slowest wliere the epidermal covering 

 is thickest." The fact tiiat a given hen stopped laying two to 

 three weeks back may somethnes be determined by the fact 

 that the tip of the beak is colorless while the base is yellow. 



Taklk XIX. - -Shuuix'; tiik VIjcvn Axxcal Puuditction of (iiiOUP.s of 

 White I.K.niuux Hk\s Ski.kctkd (iv the 1'. \sls of Vext, Beak and 



Sha\K < 'oLoK. lI)\T\ i)I-<'A)tH.I 



Color 

 class. 



Pale 



Mclniiii 



\'rll..w 



ICiilire ilock 



Nuiiil.crof Ilinl.s aii.l .Mr:m Annual Production. 



Shanks. 



Body ('iKuigcs. — Vslwn hiying, a, hen has a large, moist vent, 

 showing a dilated jiliable condition as eoin])ared to the 

 ]niekered hardness of the \ent of the non-laying hen. The 

 abdominal region is enlarged in the layer, as compared 'n'ith 

 the non-layer. The pehic bones move ajiart and become 

 eom])arati\el>' elastic and ])Hablc. In an individual that is 

 not laying, these bones almost conic togetlier just below the 

 \ent. The same iiidi\'idual when in full la\'ing may show a 

 distance of three or e\ en four hnger widtlis between them. 

 The distance from the pehic bones to tlie i)oint of the keel 

 (breast bone) is increased at the same time. These changes 

 provide room for the jiassage of the egg, the enormous increase 

 in the size of the ovary witli its se\eral ra])idly growing ova 

 and for tlie distention of the ahnieiitary tract to accommotlate 

 large am(.)unts of feed. 



The hea\iness of i>roduetion is indicateil in a measure by 

 the relative softness and jjliabiiity of the skin and the thinness 



