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THE AMEBIC AN NATURALIST [Vol. LII 



than small birds do. That is, large size usually, but not 

 always, results from long-continued growth rather than 

 from very rapid growth and as long-continued growth 

 naturally tends to postpone the date at which the first 

 egg is laid, the large hen, other things being equal, can 

 not lay as many eggs. It is possible, however, that the 

 case may actually be the converse, viz., the hen may grow 

 large because she does not lay, though there is no definite 

 evidence for this point of view. While it is easy to find 

 many instances of small birds that mature late in life, 

 instances of large birds maturing at the same age as 

 birds of approximately half their body weight have not 

 been observed. The reason for this is probably to be 

 found in the consideration that while some large birds 

 may grow more rapidly than some small birds, it is always 

 possible for some small birds to grow as fast as it is ever 

 possible for a large bird to grow and hence to mature 

 that much earlier. 



