No. 628] 



EGG-WEIGHT 



383 



laying year, the weight maxima would appear to possess 

 a similar significance. Since the two are so closely cor- 

 related it would seem possible to measure a hen's innate 

 egg-producing ability by the one phenomenon as well as 

 by the other. This constitutes the hypothesis which we 

 will now attempt to verify. 



Ill 



If we take a cross-section of the April production as 

 nearly as possible to the absolute mode** of the weight 

 curve, we learn that, although the egg-weight of most of 

 the individuals of the flock has increased at this time, 

 there are a few in which it has not increased significantly ; 

 and a still smaller number in which there has occurred a 

 loss in egg-weight. The same is true for a cross-section 

 of production taken at or near the absolute mode of the 

 autumnal weight maximum. The following question 

 tliorofore arises: Dors there exist ain/ shinifiemit corre- 



(iH/ujinH,! >r, n'i],l mu.,n,niyi^ ) <nut Ihr >nn,il>, r nf mns ,no- 

 durr,] for Ihr nitirr llrsi hniiiin nmr {Xn,-r„>]>rr 1 lo 



first (Irliiic moiv rx;u-tly tlir n;itur.' of the s.H-..ri.l vnri- 

 al)le, iiamrly. the - Icii.lciicy lo niaiiitVst incfoased egg- 

 weight" as ivfci'ivd 1(. al)()vo. There must be a fixed 

 point from which (uic t-aii calculate, for each individual 

 hen, the amount or the extent of increase in egg-weight 

 manifested at the weight maxima. Foi- certain reasons 



