Red, White, and Blue Eggs as Models of Porphyrin and Heme Metabolism*

This South American hen is most common in Chile, and derives its name from the Arauco (or Araucania) district of that country.According to Finsterbusch2 in 193 1, these "fowl . . .produce about 94 per cent of all the eggs that are sent to market in Chile."Its origin(s) are uncertain, although some believe it antedated the arrival of the Spaniards and the introduction of European chickens by Cortez.The many types of Araucana hens available today result from innumerable hybrid crossmatches.