152 Proceedings. 
Canada, which are composed of pine plank, and are said to last for 
twenty years, subject to heavy traffic. 
Mr. Barnard read a short paper on the recent Census of the popu- 
lation of Tasmania. 
Dr. M‘Carthy drew attention to the following letter addressed to 
the editor of the Lancet, in the part for December, 1850, page 643, 
as having a bearing on and being curiously coincident with the 
occurrence here of the double egg exhibited at last meeting of the 
Society :-— 
** Boyne Terrace, Notting Hill, October 1850. 
« Srr,—I have lately received a communication from Dr. White, of the 
13th Bengal cavalry, which may prove interesting to the readers of the Lancet. 
He states, ‘that a fowl belonging to an officer stationed at Peshawur laid an 
egg so singular in appearance, on account of its great length (four inches) 
and narrowness, that he determined to preserve the shell. For this purpose 
he punctured the ends, intending to remove the interior by breathing forcibly 
through it; he was surprised to find the needle strike against a hard substance, 
and on shaking the egg he felt the more assured that it must contain something 
abnormal. On breaking the shell another perfect egg was found with a 
hardened shell, containing yolk and albumen, as in the first,’ 
‘* We read of two eggs united at the ends by the membrana putaminis; and 
also of others containing a blasted ovum, double or triple yolks, &c.: but I 
believe this is the only authentic record of a perfect egg with hardened shell 
being found in the interior of onealso normal; and it would seem to determine 
points on which some difference of opinion has existed among physiologists. 
Firstly, it proves that the shell of the egg is hardened without being exposed 
to the atmosphere, although it has been believed that the induration of the 
earthy deposit depends on the absorption of carbonic acid from atmospheric 
contact: as the exterior shell was perfect, this explanation can no longer be 
considered satisfactory. Secondly, that the membrana teste, with its earthy 
envelope, are both products of the oviduct; and that it is not the case, as has 
been affirmed by one author, that the shell only is an uterine secretion.— _ 
Yours obediently, 
“oW. H. Asutey, M.D.” 
13TH Aveust, 1851.—The Rev. John Lillie, D.D., one of the 
_Vice-Presidents, in the chair. 
The following gentlemen were ballotted for and elected members 
of the Society :— 
Captain Addison, of Elizabeth-street. 
Charles Lewis, of Collins-street. 
Charles Betts, of Calcutta. 
J. Woodhouse Kirwan, A.P.M. of Bothwell. 
