263 



ICIENTIFIC NEWS. 



passing over a mountain, placed beside Mount Viso, 

 called La Traversetta, should lead into Daupliiny. 



But as this passage was surrounded by frightful preci- 

 pices^ and was only passable for men on foot, he dug 

 through the body of the mountain, a passage, which, 

 without the assistance of gunpowder, was completed in 

 less than five years. This passage is 74 metres (about 80 

 yards) in length, four in width, and about the same in 

 height. 



The opening through (his mountain has been attributed 

 by some to the ancient Romans, at the time when they 

 penetrated into Gaul ; others have ascribed it to the ce- 

 lebrated warrior of Carthage, who made the Romans 

 tremble, and was their eternal enemy. But it is certain 

 that it was effected by the Marquis Louis II. The acts 

 relating to several undertakings, composing part of this 

 work, still exist in the archives of the former office of 

 Secretariat of the interior of Piedmont, and Mr. Bresli, 

 sub-prefect of the Arrondissement, author of Notices His- 

 toriques dela VilledeSaluces, published at Turenneinthe 

 year XIII. asserts that he himself being occupied on the 

 spot in clearing this passage from rocks and other obsta- 

 cles which had detached themselves from the mountain, 

 observed on the right hand within the same passage, the 

 engraved date of 1480, the epopha at which this work 

 was finished. 



Method of conveying Carp and Pike to great Distances 

 alive. 



This method which is. no less simple than easy, and Carp and Pike, 

 which I am informed is also practised in England, is men- 

 tioned in La Revue. It may be practised by any proprie- 

 tor of ponds, and may afford a good return if used 

 in situations where carriage may easily be had. Tiie fish 

 it is said, may be thus conveyed some hundreds of miles, 

 in a state of life and health equal to what they possessed 

 when first caught. " 



Crumb of bread is soaked in brandy, and when well 

 swelled, it is used to fill the whole of the fish's mouth, 

 into which, half a glass more of the spirit is then to be 

 poured. The fish remains motionless and as if deprived of 



life : 



