Question: Why do we rely on his words? We should inspect the eggs!

(Beraisa): Simanim of (Tahor) fish are just like Simanim of eggs.

Objection: This cannot be! The Torah says that fish must have fins and scales!

Correction: Rather, Simanim of fish innards are just like Simanim of eggs;

(Beraisa): The Simanim of Tahor eggs is that one end is spherical, and the other end is pointed. If both ends are spherical, or both are pointed, they are Tamei.

If the egg white is on the outside, and the yolk is on the inside, they are Tahor. If it is vice-versa, they are Tamei.

If the white and yolk are mixed together, they are eggs of a Sheretz.

Answer #1: The case is, the eggs are cut. We do not know their full shape.

Question: We can check the yolk and white!

Answer #2 (to both questions): The case is, the yolk and white are beaten together in a bowl.

Objection: We may not buy such eggs from a Nochri!

(Beraisa): We may not sell eggs of a Treifah to a Nochri, unless they are beaten in a bowl. Therefore, we may not buy beaten eggs from a Nochri (lest they are Treifah).

Answer #3 (R. Zeira): The Simanim to distinguish Tamei eggs from Tahor are not mid'Oraisa, so we do not rely on them.

Support: If the Simanim were mid'Oraisa, we would be able to resolve the eight doubtful species (62b), through inspecting their eggs!

Question: Since we may not rely on the Simanim, why were they taught?

Answer: If they have the Simanim of Tahor eggs, we may trust even a Nochri if he says that they are a particular Tahor species. We may not rely on the Simanim alone, for raven eggs resemble dove eggs (and perhaps other Tamei eggs resemble Tahor eggs).

(Beraisa): If the white and yolk are mixed together, they are surely eggs of a Sheretz.

Question: What difference does it make? Whether they are of a Sheretz or a Tamei bird, we may not eat them!

Answer #1 (Rav Ukva bar Chama): If a baby Sheretz started forming (and died), and there was a hole in the shell, one who touches the egg becomes Tamei.

Rejection (Ravina): Perhaps they are snake eggs (which resemble Sheretz eggs, but are Tehorim! Indeed, it is important to know that they are Safek Teme'im. However, the Beraisa says that they are surely Sheretz eggs!)

Answer #2 (Rava): If a baby started forming and one (was warned and) ate it, he is lashed for eating a Sheretz.

Question: One is lashed for eating a developing bird egg, even if it is Tahor!

(Beraisa): "Every Sheretz that swarms on the ground" includes chicks that did not yet open their eyes.

Answer: That Isur is only mid'Rabanan. One is not lashed for it mid'Oraisa.

(Beraisa): Gi'ulei Beitzim (Rashi - eggs that were cooked with (and absorbed taste from) Tamei eggs; Tosfos - eggs that left the bird prematurely) are permitted;

One who is not particular (about what he eats) may eat unfertilized eggs that a hen sat on;

If a drop of blood is found, the blood is discarded and the egg is permitted.

(R. Yirmeyah): This is only if the blood is found on the knot (of the egg white).

(Dostoy, father of R. Aftoriki): This is only if the blood is found on (the knot of) the egg white. If it is found on the yolk, the entire egg is forbidden.

This is because the blood spread throughout the egg.

(Rav Gavihah): This law was said in front of Abaye, but reversed (the law of blood found on the white and yolk). Abaye corrected it to our version.

(Chizkiyah): "Bas ha'Ya'anah" forbids eggs of a Tamei bird;

We cannot say that only the young females are forbidden. Rather, it refers to eggs of a Tamei bird.

Question: Perhaps 'Bas ha'Ya'anah' is the name of the bird, so we may not expound it!

Answer: No, the name is Ye'enim - "ka'Yenim ba'Midbar."

Question: It says "v'Evel ki'Vnos Ya'anah"!

Answer: That refers to an ostrich mourning over its young.

Question: It says "will dwell there Bnos Ya'anah"!

Answer: That refers to an ostrich that dwells with its young.

Question: It says "will honor Me... u'Vnos Ya'anah"!

This cannot mean eggs, for they cannot praise Hash-m!

Answer: The Torah sometimes writes "ha'Ya'anah", and sometimes "Bas ha'Ya'anah";

Since "Bas ha'Ya'anah" is written as two words, it refers to two things (the eggs and the birds).