Cock egg

A cock egg is an archaic term for a yolkless egg ^[1]. Since they contained no yolk and therefore cannot hatch, these eggs were traditionally believed to be laid by roosters.^[1] This gave rise to the myth that when a cock's egg was hatched, it would produce a cockatrice, a fearsome serpent which could kill with its evil stare, also known as a basilisk. According to the superstition, this could be prevented by throwing the egg over the family dwelling so it smashed at the other side without touching the roof.^[1]

Reality

Eggs without yolk are called "dwarf" or "wind" eggs.^[2] Such an egg is most often a pullet's first effort, produced before her laying mechanism is fully ready. In a mature hen, a wind egg is unlikely, but can occur if a bit of reproductive tissue breaks away, stimulating the egg-producing glands to treat it as a yolk and wrap it in albumen, membranes and a shell as it travels through the egg tube. This has occurred if, instead of a yolk, the egg contains a small particle of grayish tissue. This type of egg occurs in many varieties of fowl,^{[citation needed]} including chickens (both standard and bantams), guineafowl and Japanese (Coturnix) quail.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Cock's egg". http://www.oedilf.com/db/Lim.php?Word=cock's%20egg. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 
2. ^ "Dwarf Eggs and the Timing of Ovulation in the Domestic Fowl". Nature Publishing Group. 1996-06-25. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v210/n5043/abs/2101371a0.html. Retrieved 2008-10-25. 

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