SCIKNTIl'IC NEWS, 141 



detail in* a letter to Profefibr Mitcbill, are found in ftrala of 



marl, which are dug to procure this calcareous ilibftance as a 



manure for land. It is, neverthelefs, fometimes remarked, TI>ey fometimes 



that thefe bones begin to fall in fmall portions when, after J^ to ^"^ 



having been from their calcareous inclofure, they are expofed 



to the atmofphere. Teeth, which were found and entire when 



extracted from the earth, become black in a fhort time, crack, 



itofe their enamel, and fall into fmall (cales. Without fuch a 



preservative we may prelume, with our friend Mitchill, that 



the remains of thefe animals would have been decompofed 



many centuries ago. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS, &c. 

 Prizes of the National Inflitute of France. 



JL HE clafs of mathematical and phyfical fciences having pro- Prize medal for 

 pofed in the year 8, as the fubjea of a prize to be awarded at ^™ e t ^ r d ^/"" 

 the public fitting of the 15 Germinal, in the year 10, the fol- mentable bodiea 

 lowing queflion : What are tfie charatters ivhich difiinguifh in ve- 

 getable and animal matters, thofe wfuch ferve as ferments, from 

 fuck other bodies as they put into ajiate of fermentation ? And the 

 memoirs which have been received not anfwering the condi- 

 tions of the program, the clafs propofes the fame fubjecl again 

 for the year 12. The prize is of the value of one kilogramme 

 (about one hundred and twenty-five pounds ilerling). It will 

 be given at the public meeting of the 15 Germinal, in the year 

 12. Memoirs mufl be fent before the lfl Nivofe of the fame 

 year. 



Afironomical Prize. — Citizen Lalande has prefented the Na- Agronomical, 

 tional Inftitute of France with the fum of ten thoufand francs pnze " 

 (about 400 guineas) to found an annual prize, to be given by 

 the Inflitute to the author of fuch difcovery, obfervation, or 

 work in aftronoiny, as fhall be thought the moft remarkable or 

 ufeful, during the courfe of the year. The Inflitute very highly 

 applauded this acl of generofity in one of its members, and de- 

 creed, that thanks mould be configned in their regiflers, and 

 commifTaries nominated by each of the three clafTes, to prefent 

 at the next general meeting the means of execution. 



Communications to the Royal Society refpecling the Planet Ceres. 

 > Dr. Herfchel fent an account of the appearance of the new Extreme fmall* 

 planet, as viewed through his telefcopes. He had fought for " efs of the P Ian€t 



it 



