Reaction of white and yolk during incubation. Die Reaktion verschiedener Komponenten in den Hühner- und Enteneiern im Zusammenhang mit dem Stoffwechsel des Embryos während der Brut. N. M. Schkljar. Archiv für Geflügelkunde, Vol. 10, 1936, No.1.

1. 1. In the first 3–4 days of incubation the alcalinity of the white increases; afterwards alcalinity decreases again, but not down to neutral.

2. 2. The yolk shows a slightly acid reaction at the start; at the termination of the incubation the reaction becomes fairly alcaline.

3. 3. The pH of the amnionliquid varies during incubation, never becoming more than slightly alcaline.

4. 4. In the beginning this liquid is alkaline (pH > 8). From the 16th day the reaction becomes acid, and in our investigations it reached a pH of 5.632 at hatching time.

5. 5. The pH differs in different organs of the embryo, during its development the different organs become more and more acid in different degress. This increase in acidity is most striking in the glandular part of the stomach.

6. 6. The acid reaction of the stomachcontent becomes pronounced in the last days of embryonic life, expressing itself in a progressive of H-ion concentration.

The vitamin A requirements of the laying pullet. W. C. Russell, C. S. Platt, M.W. Taylor, and D. F. Chichester. New Jersey Stas. Circ. 369, 1936.

In the experiments herein reported seven pens of healthy pullets reared on range were started on experiment late in August and continued under confinement for a 12-mo. period. All lots received essentially the same basal ration, but the proportions of yellow corn and white corn and the supplements of alfalfa meal, vitamin A concentrate, and fresh green feed were varied so that the U. S. P. units of vitamin A per pound of feed were 400, 700, 1,300, 2,200, 3,800, 4,100, and 30,000 for lots 1 to 7, respectively. Data are reported on the percentage mortality, live weight changes, egg production, hatchability of eggs, mortality of chicks during the first 2 weeks of life, and vitamin A storage in the livers of the hens.

Pullorum disease in captive quail. M. W. Emmel. Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., Vol. 89, 1936, p. 716.

An investigation was made by the Florida Experiment Station of losses which occurred throughout the 1936 growing season in young quail on a farm maintaining about 300 pairs of breeding birds. Cultures made from the organs of 2 of 5 affected quail chicks examined yielded a microorganism having the characteristics of Salmonella pullorum. The infection appeared to have been introduced to the premises of the farm by birds raised in captivity that had been received in March, the infection having been spread to a considerable extent by means of the incubators. It is pointed out that while it is unlikely that pullorum disease is of particular importance in wild quail at this time, the release of pullorum-infected birds from quail farms is a potential menace to the future welfare of this game bird, particularly at this time, when the restocking of the wild supply is a conservation program of many States.

Eleventh central Egg-laying Test 1936– 37 and Third S. A. P. A. Breeder's Register Egg-laying Test. P. E. F. Jooste. Glen, Orange Free State, South Africa. 7th April 1936 to 8th March 1937.

Light Breed Section 73 pens, heavy Breed Section 38 pens. The best hen in the light breed Section produced 285 eggs, in the heavy breed Section 269 eggs. The total production of only the four best hens in each pen is given.