THE PROBLEMS IN MATING AND IN EGG PRODUCTION 137 



as to the pen where each bird is kept so that you can easily 

 find it when wanted. This should be supplemented by exact 

 notations as to the characteristics of each fowl, whether alert 

 or slow, timid or assertive, a hustler, up early and late or 

 sluggish. 



Trap Nest Records and Leg-banding. — ^The construction 

 of the trap-nest is given on page 517. The daily egg record 

 card on page 525. The individual annual egg and hatch- 

 ability record on page 528, and the leg-bands on page 145. 



When the eggs are taken from the trap nest, the hen's 

 number is read and placed on the small end of the egg. On 

 the eighteenth day of incubation all of one hen's eggs are placed 

 in a mosquitoe netting sack and the incubator closed till the 

 hatch is over. When the hatch is over each baby chick is 

 leg-banded and the number recorded together with the num- 

 ber of the dam. The band may be placed around the leg, or it 

 may be placed in the web of the wing or patagial duplicature. 

 If the band is placed on the leg it must be loosened once a 

 week as the chick develops. When the bird is nearly grown 

 a permanent seal band may be placed on the leg. It is a 

 good plan to leave the wing band on as this will give a double 

 check on the bird. (See Figs. 44 and 45.) 



