Cutting of the Isthmus of Suez. 85 
This is very near what has been observed by Messrs. Coste 
and Gerbe: 
A hen, separated from the cock at the time of her first laying 
this year, gave five fertile eggs in the space of eight days. 
The egg laid on March 15th produced a male; that on March 
17th a male; that on the 18th a female; thaton the 20th a male ; 
that on the 22d a female. 
A characteristic fact in this experiment is the production of 
a male after a female, which ought not to have taken place 
according to the theory. But isit only a simple RI Or 
is it necessary to consider the fact a radical objection? We may 
learn by and by on this point, from the researches in which Mr. 
Gerbe is now engaged. 
On the occasion of the preceding note, Flourens recalled an 
_ €xperiment which he made, thirty years ago. 
“ Aristotle had observed that the pigeon ordinarily lays two 
eggs, and that of these two eggs one commonly producesa male 
and the other a female. He wished to know which was the egg 
that gave the male, and which the one that produced the female, 
¢ found that the first egg always gave the male, and the second 
the female. I have repeated this experiment as many as eleven 
times in succession, and eleven times in succession the first egg 
gave the male and the second egg the female. I have seen again 
that which Aristotle saw.” 
Cutting of the Isthmus of-Suez.—The almost certain success of 
the canal across the Isthmus of Suez fixes attention, more than 
€ver, upon otlier projects of the kind. The cutting of the isth- 
mus of Malacca and of that of Darien await only the completion 
of the Suez ship canal. In France, they are talking of uniting 
the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean by a ship canal which 
would borrow part of its route from the old Southern Canal. In 
Holland, a society is incorporated, under the title of a “Com- 
making the passage of the Danish islands. This project, often 
thought of, is now very seriously considered. 
Finally, they are speaking of cutting one other isthmus, and 
this time it is Spain which bas the honor. It is propose 
Plerce the Spanish isthmus in such a way that Gibraltar will be 
an islan he canal is to start from Trafalgar and end at An- 
dalusia. This canal, which would cost hardly a hundred millions 
of francs, has for its object to prevent more than 4000 vessels 
