Abstract
THE hatching of nidifugous birds involves complex biological and mechanical factors, some of which are poorly understood. In the herring gull, Larus argentatus1, and the black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa2, the extent of shell breakage, or pipping, is reported to be little more than a quarter of the circumference. Breakage of most of the circumference, however, has been noted in the turnstone, Arenaria interpres3, the pigeon, Columba livia4, the fowl5–7 and many species of Anatidae (unpublished work of P. M. D.). Pipping obviously needs study.
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References
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DRIVER, P., HIGGINS, T. & NEWMAN, D. “Pipping” Mechanism and Hatching in Nidifugous Birds. Nature 219, 394–395 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/219394a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/219394a0
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