. Edinburgh journal of natural history and of the physical sciences . - On breaking open the outward shell, a, a second egg, 6, was found covered with shell, and, within this second body a third substance, c, consisting of a spherical membrane, one side of which was partially encrusted with shell, was also discovered. The first and second shells contained the usual albuminous matter or white of egg, and it is presumed that the substance in the third cavity was similar, although our informant does not state precisely whether a red yolk was present or not. On the inner side of both the first and
. Edinburgh journal of natural history and of the physical sciences . - On breaking open the outward shell, a, a second egg, 6, was found covered with shell, and, within this second body a third substance, c, consisting of a spherical membrane, one side of which was partially encrusted with shell, was also discovered. The first and second shells contained the usual albuminous matter or white of egg, and it is presumed that the substance in the third cavity was similar, although our informant does not state precisely whether a red yolk was present or not. On the inner side of both the first and second shells the usual membrane of the egg is distinctly visible; the matter of the shell differs in no respect from that of the common egg, except in being rather more porous and brittle. The inner membrane has all the appearance of being destined for the yolk, but, as we have remarked, there is reason to suspect that the contents vrithin the membrane were of a white albuminous nature. The most obvious explanation of this curious Lusus NaturcE is, that the three membraneous coats common to the egg have become ossified, or rather encrusted with carbonate of lime; that this has taken place in the second membrane from an imusual action of its secreting vessels; and that the same process had commenced, and was rapidly extending to the membrane of the yolk. It would be a curious circumstance to ascertain whether the ossification began first on the yolk membrane, c, and being checked here by the production of the middle membrane, 6, was subsequently covered by the membrane and shell, a,âor whether the ossification of the inner membranes proceeded subsequently to their development by the outer shell, a. If the latter were the case, it would show that the internal mem- branes of the egg have the power of secreting and depositing carbonate of lime, that is, of exercising a vital action when excluded from any of the vessels of the parent hen, and previous to, or independent of, the a
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