Natural History. 419 



tissues possess a distinct power of absorption, or that this process 

 is influenced by the nature of the animal tissues ? 



The sum of twenty guineas, a medal, or a set of books of that 

 value, will be given to the author of the best dissertation on the 

 subject proposed by the society, for which all men of science are 

 invited to compete. 



The dissertation may be written in English, French, or Latin, 

 and must be transmitted to the secretary on or before the 1st of 

 December, 1826, and the adjudication of the prize will take place 

 in the last week of the month of February following. 



To each dissertation must be prefixed a motto, which must like- 

 wise be written on the outside of a sealed packet, containing the 

 name and address of the author. No dissertation will be received 

 with the author's name affixed ; and all dissertations, except the 

 successful one, will be returned, if desired, with the sealed packet 

 unopened. 



Nicolson Bain, Secretary. 



Copy of a Letter from John Pond, Esq., A.R., to Mr. South, rela- 

 tive to the Star £ Boutis 



" Dear Sir, — I first observed f Bootis to be a close double star 

 at Lisbon, in the year 1795, with a seven-feet reflector, which the 

 late Sir W. Herschel made for me expressly, with the greatest 

 care. I immediately communicated the circumstance to him, and 

 he wrote me in answer, that in consequence of my information, 

 he had examined the star, and found it as I described, but reck- 

 oned it at that time among the most difficult. I brought the 

 same telescope to England, and used it afterwards in Somerset- 

 shire for several years, but could never again see the same star 

 distinctly double, which I attributed to change of climate ; the 

 star is now much more easily seen ; our transit telescope separates 

 it with ease. I recollect at Lisbon, that it was only on very fa- 

 vourable nights that I could see it double. Yours very truly, 



" Royal Observatory, " J. Pond." 



" Thursday, 22nd December. 



