AbstractFour parameters that might be related to either the cell surface or cell adhesiveness were examined as a function of embryonic age in chick cells, and compared to each other. The four parameters were: (1) size of aggregates formed in shaker culture; (2) rate of aggregation in shaker culture; (3) sorting‐out behavior; (4) surface charge density. Aggregate size and aggregation rate of retinal cells were both found to decrease from 5 to 19 days of embryonic development, but the decreases followed different patterns. Sorting‐out behavior remained constant from as early as four to as late as 19 days of development (liver, heart and retinal cells). Surface charge density of retinal cells at physiological pH's rose from five to seven days, reached a maximum value between 7 and 11 days, and decreased from 11 to 19 days of development. Because of this negative correlation, it was concluded that the four parameters reflect different properties of the cell surface.