THE RATE OF OVULATION IN THE DOMESTIC FOWL DURING THE PULLET YEAR

The rate of ovulation of the domestic fowl may be expressed by the equation of an autocatalytic chemical reaction. This is not surprising in view of the fact that the rate of growth may also be expressed by such an equation, and that the rate of ovulation is probably an index of the growth of the eggs. This brings the phenomenon of ovulation in the hen under the general subject of growth, and substantiates the generality and the probability of the hypothesis that growth, or at any rate the limiting factor of growth, is an autocatalytic reaction.