Fig. 11.

Stage 42 (12–13 days) quail embryo. Pigmentation on the feet is increasingly prominent and for the first time apparent along the ventral surface of the toes. There is an increased density of feather germs and each feather is considerably longer and produces a ‘glossy’ look. General patterns and features alter little after stage 42 although the embryos continue to increase in size. The overall length of the bird is variable and therefore the beak and third toe length should be used for accurate staging. The mean beak length is 2.3 mm and third toe length is 8.6 mm.