OF POULTRY. 
295 
In the second place, let him who sets down his rats at 
500, bestir himself, and keep 500 of these hens instead, and 
he will find himself a yearly gainer of about £200 clear 
money. 
In the third place, let those who estimate their rats at 
750 in number, follow the same example, and they will find 
the yearly profits of their hen-roost to exceed £300. 
And lastly, to those who estimate their rats at a thou- 
sand, the difference will be, that by the rats they lose a vast 
amount of money, and by the fowls they will clear about 
£400 yearly. 
Emhryo Eggs, 
In concluding my remarks on the breeding, feeding, and 
value of poultry (all of which are the result of practical 
experience), allow me to say a few words to the querulous. 
I have been reminded that rats do not increase by figures, 
but by the amount of food afforded them j and also that 
fowls do not lay or increase by arithmetical rule. I can 
assure my friends, that I not only clearly appreciate the 
wisdom of this opinion, but assure them that I am perfectly 
aware that neither herbivorous, granivorous, or carnivorous 
animals can either increase or live without food ; also that 
in a domesticated state their increase is in a great measure 
regulated by the amount of seasonable nutrition that we 
afford them. Still, for rats, there is this to be said, they do not 
either ask our leave, or wait our permission, but help them- 
selves ; and when our supply runs short they pay their 
addresses to some one else. Thus are they always well sup- 
plied with the best of food, and, in the usual course of 
nature, increase and multiply at pleasure. But as to fowls, 
they cannot gnaw or work their way into ricks, barns, and 
granaries, like rats ; consequently they are mainly dependant 
upon us for assistance. I am also satisfied that an egg is 
not the result of chance or accident ; but that a certain 
number of embryo eggs are formed in the pullet before the 
pullet is hatched, or rather with her first formation in the 
shell ; and that no after circumstances whatever can form 
new embryo eggs. That the maturity of these infantine 
eggs is regulated entirely by the amount of nutrition regu- 
