46 On the Egyptian system of Artificial Hatching. [Jan. 



possible that the little tender chickens just hatched should be able to 

 withstand the inclemency of such weather ; whereas if hatched in spring, 

 they become strong enough before summer sets in. 



2. The great difficulty of collecting a sufficient quantity of fresh 

 eggs during the summer, must be a decided objection for putting them 

 into the ovens at that time, for in five or six days all the eggs become 

 spoilt, and it takes some time to gather the required number of eggs ; 

 indeed this is the reason which the natives themselves assign when 

 questioned on the subject. 



Whatever may be the weight attached to these opinions, yet the 

 very circumstance of this artificial hatching being practised in spring 

 furnishes us with a strong proof that its introduction not only in hot 

 but in temperate climates is feasible. 



In this firm conviction, and with the anxious desire of its adoption 

 in other countries with success, I shall venture to offer a few remarks 

 which I trust will be profitable. 



Without waiting to shew the different modifications and improve- 

 ments of which the Egyptian ovens are capable, I shall only mention 

 that the system of large ovens is subject to many inconveniences. 



1. This work becomes a monopoly to a few, and Government 

 consequently levy a tax on the establishment. 



2. The collecting of so many thousand fresh eggs becomes a work 

 of labour and expense. 



3. Taking care of the newly-hatched chickens would be attend- 

 ed with immense trouble and loss ; for at sunset they must be placed 

 in a warm room, their food and drink must be attended to, and 

 cleanliness, and other little cares, must not be neglected to rear them, 

 whilst the oven-keeper must be looking after more fresh eggs to 

 continue his subsistence. In fact, these serious inconveniences have 

 been felt and remedies adopted. 



In some districts people bring eggs to the ovens on their own 

 account ; these they mark with ink or otherwise, and pay the proprie- 

 tor for the use of the oven and his superintendence, taking the chickens 

 away when hatched. 



In other districts Government allot six or eight villages for the exclu- 

 sive use of the oven-proprietors, to whom alone the villagers must sell 

 the eggs. In this case the proprietor farms out a certain number of 

 chickens to several poor families, either paying them when the fowls are 

 sold for the trouble of rearing them up, or receiving back generally one 

 half for the number of chickens given; the persons taking as many 

 above that number as they may have succeeded in rearing, as a com- 

 pensation for their trouble. 



