448 Annual Meeting of 



IV. — An enormous quantity of different gases escapes from 

 the bosom of the earth with spring water, in almost all coun- 

 tries. The Society requires that this be examined in refer- 

 ence to the springs which are found in the kingdom of the 

 Netherlands. The Society is desirous that it should be as- 

 certained, by exact experiments, and by all the means which 

 Physics and Chemistry supply, whether gases really accom- 

 pany the waters of our springs at their exit from the earth ; 

 and if so, what is the composition of these gases ? 



V. — The researches of Dr. Rathke have proved that the 

 fresh water crawfish undergoes no very considerable meta- 

 morphosis after quitting the egg ; while, according to the im- 

 portant discoveries of Mr. Thomson, crabs do not arrive at 

 their perfect state, until after having passed through many in- 

 termediate ones. This great difference between two genera 

 so nearly allied, has attracted the attention of the Society. — 

 It therefore requests that further enquiries may be made on 

 this subject; and that a description may be given, accompa- 

 nied with accurate figures, of the developement of one or more 

 species of crab, from their escape from the egg to their per- 

 fect state. 



VI. — According to some botanists, Algce, of a very simple 

 structure, placed under favourable circumstances, develope, 

 and change into very different plants, belonging to genera 

 much more elevated in the scale of organic beings ; although 

 these same Algce, in the absence of such favourable circum- 

 stances, would be fertile, and reproduce their primitive form. 

 The Society judging that " if we could place these observa- 

 tions beyond dispute, and prove, in an undoubted manner, 

 the transmutation of two organized bodies, the one into the 

 other, we should have made an immense step in the know- 

 ledge of these bodies;" requires that these observations be 

 repeated with the greatest care ; that they be extended to 

 other plants, which have not yet been examined in this point 

 of view ; and that, finally, the reality or the falsity of this trans- 

 mutation of one organized body into another, be proved, by 

 exact descriptions, and by detailed figures. 



VII. — What are the substances whose physical properties 

 are distinct, though their chemical composition is absolutely 

 the same ; since they contain the same elements, united in si- 

 milar numbers and in the same manner ? 



VIII. — Many experiments, particularly those of M. Bec- 

 querel, having made known the influence exercised by Elec- 

 tricity and other physical forces, in the formation of crystals, 

 even in substances, the crystallization of which it had previ- 



