OSSIFICATION AND GROWTH-RATES OF THE LIMB LONG BONES DURING THE PREHATCHING PERIOD IN THE QUAIL (COTURNIX-COTURNIX-JAPONICA)

The timing of ossification and the growth of six long bones of the pre hatching period in the quail was studied. Ninety-nine quail eggs were incubated and in total nine fetuses were selected daily from the sixth to the sixteenth day of incubation. The fetuses were stained with ali zarine and alcian blue double colouration. The fetuses were studied un der the stereoscopic microscope and linear measurements were obtained from the humerus, ulna, radius, femur, tibia and fibula. The first app earance of the primary ossification centres in the diaphysis of the st udied bones was found to occur between the sixth and the seventh day o f incubation. Different growth patterns between the bones of the leg a nd of the wing were observed. Humerus and tibia showed the greatest gr owth rate while the radius and fibula showed the lowest.