Chullin

fish roe.) And these are the characteristics which distinguish the eggs [of clean birds]: All that are arched and rounded, with one end broad and the other end narrow, are clean. Those that are broad at both ends or narrow at both ends are unclean. Those with the white outside and the yolk in the center are clean, those with the yolk outside and the white in the center are unclean; if the white and the yolk are mixed up, one may be certain that it is a reptile's egg? — This1 must be resorted to only where the eggs were broken.2 But they can still be examined by the position of the yolk and white? — They were beaten up in a dish. But is it then permissible to purchase such from them [gentiles]? Surely it has been taught: One may not sell to a gentile the egg of a bird that was trefah,3 unless it was beaten up in a dish. For this reason one may not buy from them eggs beaten up in a dish!4 — Rather, said R. Zera: The distinguishing characteristics [of the eggs of clean birds] do not rest on Biblical authority.5 For should you not hold this, then when R. Assi stated ‘There are eight birds about which there is a doubt’,6 it could rightly be asked: Why not examine their eggs;7 you must therefore say that the characteristics do not rest on Biblical authority. To what purpose then were they stated above? To teach the following: If both ends [of the egg] were broad, or both narrow, or if the yolk was outside and the white in the center, it is certainly unclean; if, however, one end was broad and the other narrow, and the white outside and the yolk in the center, and if, in addition, the gentile says. ‘It is of such and such a bird’, which is clean, he may be relied upon, but without this express statement he may not be relied upon,8 for there is the raven's egg which resembles that of a dove. The Master said: ‘If the white and the yolk are mixed up, one may be certain that it is a reptile's egg’. For what reason is this stated so?9 — R. ‘Ukba b. Hama answered: To teach that if [the embryo within was] developed and [the shell] perforated, then a lentil's bulk thereof would convey uncleanness. Rabina demurred, saying: Perhaps it is a serpent's egg!10 — Rather, said Raba, It is to teach that if [the embryo within was] developed, whosoever eats it would incur stripes for [eating] creeping things that crawl upon the earth.11 If so, why [do we argue about the egg] of an unclean bird? Even of a clean bird [there is also this prohibition]! For it has been taught: [The verse,] And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, 12 above-mentioned distinguishing signs. must be declared to the transgressor as a warning before he commits the offence, in order to render him liable to stripes.