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THE AMEBIC AX NATURALIST [Vol.XLVI 



consider what might happen at any time with the discharge of 

 such premature eggs from the ovary. If followed soon by the 

 discharge of a mature egg from the ovary and its normal descent 

 it might well overtake the smaller specimen at some portion of 

 the oviduct and easily include it within the larger mass of al- 

 bumen. This, it seems to me, is probably just what happens in 

 the majority of such cases, possibly in all. I do not overlook the 

 still more anomalous case cited by Herri ck ('99), in which the 

 smaller included egg is in the yolk instead of the surrounding 

 albumen. Of this Herrick offers no definite explanation ; indeed, 

 there may be some doubt as to exact facts in this case, the inclu- 

 sion having been found in a cooked egg and details being un- 



Concerning the specimen of Fig. 3 there is little to be said. 

 Its bizarre shape is remarkable, but here again the element of 

 doubt as to the definite composition of the contents of the 

 smaller end — handle of the squash — render unprofitable any at- 

 tempt, to discuss or speculate as to its real significance. Whether 

 there may have been some rupture of the original yolk and the 

 segregation of a portion in one end with the extruded part in 

 the other may be a possible explanation ; or whether some mal- 

 formation of the oviduct may have been a disposing cause must 

 remain open questions. Various egg shapes are familiar to 

 those handling large numbers of eggs. I have myself seen many 

 such, though none resembling the one here under consideration. 

 That conditions of confinement, close inbreeding, or other fea- 

 tures of habit or environment may have an influence in such 

 matters are altogether possible. Association with unusual 

 shapes, colors, etc., at certain times may affect domestic animals 

 variously; e. g., witness the very interesting story of Jacob's 

 spotted cattle (!), still the contiguity of garden and poultry 

 yard referred to above can hardly be considered as a vera causa 

 in this instance ! Chas. W. Hargftt 



LITERATURE CITED 

 rgitt, Chas. W. Some Interesting Egg Monstrosities. Zool. Bull, Vol. 

 II, 1899. 



rrick, F. H. 1899a. A Case of Egg within Egg. Science, Vol. IX, p- 

 364; ibid., &. Ovum in Ovo. Am. Nat., Vol. 33, p. 409. 



Double Hens' Eggs. Am. Nat., Vol. 40, p. 13, 1906. 

 . Nat., Vol. 45, p. 54. 



ion, J. T. 



