SPOILED FRESH EGG 393 



Held Eggs Within the Body. — It is not positively established 

 whether a hen can of her own will stop the development of the 

 yolks prior to their entrance to the oviduct, and it is hardly 

 likely that she can, but it is certain that she can control the egg 

 after that period. She can retain it for a considerable time after 



(Courtesy U. S. Dep'i Agriculture) 

 Fig. 256. — Outer shell membrane of fresh egg. Magnified 150 times. 



it is completely formed, whereupon, instead of the life germ re- 

 maining dormant in the fertile egg after it is laid and until such 

 time as it is subjected to the proper uniform temperature for 

 incubation, it will commence to develop within the egg within 

 the hen. "Obviously, although such an egg may be freshly laid, 

 it is not a fresh egg. On the contrary, it is a spoiled egg; 



