A. J. MACDONALD & T. S. KRISHNAN 329
The average thick white percentages of the White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red
and desi eggs examined within one hour of laying were 53, 54 and 57 respective-
ly for the period 19-25 May, whereas the corresponding figures for the pre-
vious week (11-17 May) for day-old eggs were only 44, 38 and 44 per cent.
The average thick white percentages of the White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red
and desi eggs stored in the refrigerator for one week were 51, 51 and 51 respec-
tively. The figures show that there is a very considerable drop in the percent-
age of the thick white during hot weather when eggs are stored, even for a
period of only 24 hours, at ordinary room temperature. Further, the fall in
the percentage of the 'thick white recorded for eggs stored for 24 hours at an
average room temperature of about 90°F. is considerably greater than that in
new-laid eggs stored at a temperature of 55°F. for a period of one week. These
figures demonstrate very clearly the harmful influence of high storage tem-
peratures, even for a relatively short period, on the percentage of the white and
the beneficial value of rapid cooling and holding of eggs at a comparatively cool
temperature. As the percentage of the thick white after one week's storage
at 55°F. was somewhat lower than that recorded for new-laid eggs, it appears
that even this method of storage does not prevent a certain amount of deteriora-
tion in the quality of eggs over a period of one week.
To find out whether there is a real seasonal influence on the internal quality
of eggs, the examination of hour-old eggs for their thick white percentage was
repeated, exactly as described above, during different seasons, i.e. n May,
September, December and early April. The results are given in Table VIII.
Each figure for thick white percentage of the different breeds is the average of
84 individual determinations. The average maximum temperature in the
shade during the experimental periods is also given.
A study of the figures in the table reveals some interesting points. It is
readily seen that the internal quality of the eggs is best in winter (December),
next best in spring (April), medium only during the period of the monsoon
(September) and poor in the hot weather (May). The thick white percentage
of the eggs of all the three breeds increased from May to December and there-
after declined.
The maximum temperature in April was higher than in September and yet
the quality was better in the spring than in the monsoon period. Therefore, it
seems that though temperature is the chief factor governing maintenance or
deterioration in quality, there are still other factors which require investigation.
From these results it appears that there may be a seasonal influence on the
internal quality of even new-laid eggs, those laid in winter being better than
those laid in summer.
Influence of fertility
It is generally accepted that infertile eggs stand up to storage better than
fertile eggs.. This general belief is obviously correct if fertile eggs are kept at
warm temperatures, for a certain amount of embryo development takes
place at a temperature of 68°F. or over. It was not known, however, whether
there is any marked difference in the percentage of the thick white of fertile and
infertile eggs when new-laid. In order to throw more light on this subject,