450 Annual Meeting of the 



fur Physiol.' iii. 261. Martius, ' Reisenach Brasilien,' ii. 726. 

 'Flora, 1 1837, p. 8. 



XII. — What fossil remains of animals and plants are found 

 in the different beds of the soil in Holland, except the strata 

 around Maestricht ? What do they teach us respecting the 

 relative ages and succession of these beds ; as well as of the 

 changes which the soil of this country has undergone in past 

 ages ? 



XIII. — What does experience teach us with regard to the 

 cause of violent tempests, like those which took place on the 

 9th of November, 1800, and the 29th of November, 1836 ? — 

 Had these two storms, and other anterior ones, been preced- 

 ed by phenomena announcing their approach ? Over what 

 space did the storm of November the 29th, 1836, rage with 

 the same violence as in this country, as far as can be judged 

 of from its effects ? In what paits of Europe did it com- 

 mence, and in what parts was it latest felt; and what may we 

 conclude from thence with regard to its course ? Is it known, 

 by positive accounts, that similarly violent storms have taken 

 place at the same time, or nearly the same time, in different 

 parts of the world, distant from each other ? What were the 

 most particular and remarkable phenomena observed during 

 the last storm ? 



It is required that the papers and other authentic docu- 

 ments referred to in replying to this question, be pointed out. 



Historical Question, to be replied to before the 1st of Ja- 

 nuary, 1840. 



What may we know with certainty, by consulting History 

 and the researches of learned men, aided also by archives and 

 local tradition, concerning the successive changes which the 

 downs that border the shores of Holland have continually un- 

 dergone, since the times of the earliest written account to the 

 present day ; especially with regard to the losses sustained 

 by these downs on the side towards the sea; and, on the other 

 hand, with regard to what they have gained by encroaching 

 on the opposite side, by the progressive advance of the sand ; 

 and what has been the effect upon the woods, lands, and wa- 

 ters of the interior ? 



The reward for a satisfactory reply to each of the above 

 questions, is a gold medal of the value of 150 florins ; and a 

 further reward of 150 florins Dutch, when the answer is judged 

 to be deserving of it. The answers must be legibly written 

 in Dutch, French, English, Latin, or German, in Italic cha- 



