476 



POULTRY PRODUCTION 



rounding the germ. Before the candle this appears as a pink 

 ring which from its nature has given the name " blood ring" 

 to eggs containing dead germs. These eggs are declared 

 by the government authorities to be unfit for human food, 

 and are a total loss, except that in the vicinity of tanneries 

 they may be disposed of at a very low price for use in tan- 

 ning certain classes of leather goods. 



Fig. 231 



/ 



Fertile egg allowed to die after seventy-two hours of incubation, showing a 

 pronounced blood ring. (Courtesy of Bureau of Animal Industry.) 



Rots. — Eggs that are so far decomposed through the agency 

 of mould or bacteria as to be totally unfit for food are termed 

 rots. The appearance of rots varies with the kind of organism 

 causing its decomposition. They are severally designated 



