Embryology. 99 



haled through the shell. Another cause is that owing 

 to the shell of the egg becoming coated with excreta, 

 or other kind of dirt, the squab is gradually suffocated, 

 whilst it should be developing. 



SLOW POISON, YET POISON. 



The more one studies this question of the reason 

 why youngsters do not chip, the more apparent it be- 

 comes that unnatural surroundings have something to 

 do with it. A loft which is kept closely shut up at 

 night so that all the air becomes exhausted and vitiated 

 is not likely to produce strong, healthy squabs. 

 Neither is one in which too many birds are kept, for 

 the exhalations of the inmates quickh^ renders the 

 atmosphere poisonous. Like the old lady's stewed 

 tea, it may be slow poison, but it is poison, none the 

 less. It is many a day now since I went birds' nesting, 

 but mj' memory does not recall many cases of >'Oung 

 birds dead in the shell amongst the nests I stole; as a 

 matter of fact, I don't seem able to call to mind one 

 single case. I used, now and again, to find an addled 

 egg, or an unfertile one, but never do I remember 

 one in which the youngster had come to the hour of 

 birth and then had not strength enough to chip the 

 shell. We all know that the eggs of our wild birds 

 are always beautifully clean and bright in the nest, and 

 as for the atmosphere, where could it possibly be purer? 

 This, therefore, draws one to the conclusion that im- 

 pure air and dirty lofts may have something to do with 

 our young Pigeons being dead in shell. Another 

 thought strikes me as I write. 



Eggs are sometimes dirty in a loft which cannot 

 be so stvled. When this is so, it will be found that 

 one of the parents has dirty feet. Now, dirty feet are 

 an unfailing sign of lack of stamina and ill-health. 

 Adult birds which are in possession of a full flow of 

 animal spirits, health,' and vivacity, never have dirty 

 feet. Unhealthy birds thus not only are objection- 

 able, because they cannot be expected to procreate 

 healthy progeny, but because, by their neglect of the 

 ordinary rules 'of health they further handicap their 

 progeny vet unborn by putting an extra weight upon 



