106 PHEASANTS FOB COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



set in each nest for hatching; as by a little forethought in 

 this respect, great advantages may be obtained by saving 

 time, and retaining the services of the sitting hen. Over 

 each nest the date should be distinctly pencilled, thus j^^ 

 which means fourteen eggs were set on the 16th of April, 

 1896. About the ninth day the eggs should be examined, 

 and all those which appear perfectly clear, as when first set, 

 should be laid on one side as useless for hatching, but as 

 perfectly good for feeding the poults." 



This examination of the eggs after they have been sat on 

 for a few days is exceedingly desirable, as those that are 

 unfertilised may be removed, when they serve as food for the 

 poults, and leave more room for such as contain live birds. 



Many instruments dignified by the title of ovascopes and 

 egg-testers have been devised for this purpose, some with 

 lenses, others with reflectors, &c. I have tried the whole of 

 them, and find them far inferior to the following simple 

 contrivance, the description and engraving of which is re- 

 produced from my work on " Table and Market Poultry " : 



" The most simple egg-tester is made out of a piece of 

 cardboard ; the cover of an old book answers very well. An 

 oval hole should be cut in it, not quite large enough to allow 

 an egg to pass through, and if the cardboard is white, one 

 side should be inked or painted black. The eggs are more 

 conveniently removed from the hen at night, or if in day 

 they should be taken into a room from which daylight is 

 excluded. A single lamp only should be used. The card- 

 board, with the darkened side towards the observer, should 

 be held near the chimney of the lamp, and the eggs one after 

 another, should be held against the hole. Those that con- 

 tain chickens will be observed to be quite dark and opaque, 

 except at the larger end, where the air-space exists. These 

 should be replaced under the hen. Those that have not been 

 fertilised, and are consequently sterile, are sufficiently 

 transparent to allow the light to pass through, and look as 

 fresh eggs would if examined in the same manner. Such 



