J  ^5  Our  Canaries 
without  ever  having  seen  one  or  heard  its  song.  But  this  proximity 
undoubtedly  hastens  the  maturation  of  the  ovules,  by  turning  the  thoughts 
towards  the  reproductive  functions.  The  presence  of  the  cock  in  the  same 
cage  does  so  to  a  much  greater  extent.  Hens  often  lay  in  four  or  five 
days  after  being  paired  up,  although  quite  ready  to  lay  with  the  cock  in  next 
cage  for  the  previous   two  or  three  weeks.     Maturation  of  the  ovules  can 
"  {a)    Warm  weather,  or  artificial  warmth  in 
springtime. 
"  [b)    Increased  food  supply  by  giving  stimu- 
lating foods  and  seeds. 
"  (c)  Placing  the  cock  in  sight  of  or  prox- 
imity to  the  hen. 
"  {d)  Pairing  up  and  supplying  material  and 
receptacles  for  the  nest  and  eggs." 
RETARDING  INFLUENCES. 
"  It  can  be  retarded  by 
"  {a)  Any  factor  which  has  depressed  the 
general  health,  strength  and  condition  of  the  hen, 
such  as  an  illness  during  the  previous  winter,  over- 
showing  the  preceding  autumn,  a  late  or  prolonged 
moult,  or  insufficient  care  and  feeding  through  a 
cold,  damp  and  dismal  early  spring. 
"(6)  A  cold  spell  of  weather  about  the  time 
that  laying  should  take  place. 
"(c)    Withholding  stimulating  and  increased 
food. 
''{d)    Not   allowing  hen  to  see  or  hear  the 
cock,  nor  have  access  to  material  and  receptacles." 
ANATOMICAL  CONSIDERATIONS. 
"  From  the  study  of  the  anatomy  of  the  reproductive  organs  it  follows 
that  absence  of  eggs  can    be  due  to  any   cause  which  prevents  the  ovules 
from  maturing  or   interferes  with  their   passage  along   the    oviduct.  These 
would  be 
"  (i.)  Absence  of  the  ovary,  or  mal-development  of  it  and  the  oviduct.  The 
whole  system  might  be  ill-developed  and  out  of  proportion  to  the  rest  of 
the  hen,  or  there  might  be  a  narrowing  of  the  oviduct  in  some  part  of  its 
course  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  egg  to  pass  through  it. 
"(ii.)  Inflammation  of  the  ovary,  or  duct,  or  the  structures  round  about 
them.  This  might  so  change  the  character  of  the  ovary  as  to  form  a 
resistance  to  the  proper  development  of  the  ovule,  or  prevent  its  extrusion 
thus  be  hastened  by 
heavy,  dense  crest  require 
the   edges   over    the  eye 
trimming  away  during  the 
breeding  season. 
