42 POULTRY LABORATORY GUIDE 



A space at the large end between these mem- 

 branes being filled with air is called the air cell. 

 As the egg, small end first, nears the cloaca, the 

 last secretion, consisting of a thin liquid, is added; 

 this condenses and forms the shell. The pas- 

 sage of the egg down the oviduct requires from 

 fom- to six hours' time. During the non-breeding 

 season the organs are greatly reduced in size and 

 nearly disappear. 



Remove the oviduct, cross-section same, and 

 determine the different dilations which secrete 

 the various fluids. Make a sketch of the entire 

 oviduct. 



The color of the shell depends upon pigment 

 matter secreted by certain membranes of the 

 uterus. What are the composition and fimction 

 of the sheU ? 



EXERCISE XII 



Formation of the Chick, from the Third 

 TO THE Sixth Day 



Take from the incubator or from under the 

 hen eggs which have been incubated for from 

 three to six days, one for each day. Test them 

 to make sure that they are fertile and of normal 

 development. Empty the contents of each egg 

 carefully into a separate dish, preferably porce- 



