420 IMPERIAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ETC., OF BORDEAUX. 



V. Natural sciences. — ''The constniction of aquariums has enabled us to 

 study the habits of a great number of animals. The basin of Arcachon having 

 already been the scene of interesting investigations, the Academy desires that 

 researches of this nature should be continued." To that end it profi'ers a prize 

 of 500 francs. 



Fauna of the Gironde. — The department of the Gironde possesses catalogues 

 more or less complete of its vertebrate animals, its testaceous molluslis,'coleop- 

 tera, lepidoptera, &c. ; but this fauna, far advanced as it is, is wholly -wanting in 

 any collective review of the marine animals belonging to the inferior orders. 

 Considering that in defect of rocky coasts our department includes at least a vast 

 estuary (the basin of Arcachon) highly favorable to the study of a great numbcE 

 of these different organisms, the xVcademy would indicate the following as a desid- 

 eratum : " The preparation of catalogues of the Crustacea, annelidae, radiata, &c., 

 which are still deficient in the fauna of the department of the Gironde ; to be 

 accompanied by figures of new or little known species." Prize, a gold medal of 

 500 francs. 



VI. Physiology. — The Academy having had the pleasure of crowning a meri- 

 torious memoir on a subject which it had proposed under this head, hoj^es to 

 obtain a like gratifying result by presenting the following questions at once of 

 scientific and practical interest and worthy of exciting the emulation of our savants : 

 First. "A study of the anatomical and physiological relations which exist 

 between the nervous cellules of the primitive fibers, sensitive and motive. The 

 application of these researches to the study of reflex and sympathetic actions." 

 Prize, a gold medal of 300 francs. Second, "Physiological and therapeutic 

 effects of the ingcsta which excite to labor and vigilance, which supply in part 

 the place of aliments, and some of which are recognized as moderators of the 

 vital combustion, such as alcohol, coffee, tea, mate, cocoa, &c." The prize will 

 be a gold medal of 300 francs. 



VII. Fine arts. — '' State and tendency of religious architecture at the present 

 epoch." Prize, a gold medal of 300 francs. "History of painting at Bor- 

 deaux." Prize, a medal, the value of which may extend to 500 francs. 



VIII. Poetry. — The competition in poetry is subject to the conditions hereto- 

 fore prescribed, and the choice of the subject remains optional with the author. 



IX. Biogra])hical notices. — As in previous years, the Academy invites bio- 

 graphical notices of the celebrated or useful men who have belonged either to the 

 province of Guienne or to the department. ''Life and works of Brascassat." 

 Prize, a gold medal of 300 francs. 



X. Archeology. — '' JMonograph of the church of Saint Michel of Bordeaux, 

 with historic documents, plans and designs." Prize, a medal of 500 francs. 

 '' For the best memoir on the history of the church of Soulac, corroborated by 

 plans, designs, and an indication of the original or printed documents consulted 

 by the author." Prize, a gold medal of 300 francs. The Academy desiring 

 to encourage archeological researches in the department of the Gironde, awards 

 also medals of encouragement to the authors of the most important researches. 



XL Hydrology. — The question of artesian excavations has been theoretically 

 treated for some isolated points of the vast basin of Aquitaine in the various 

 publications and academic communications of MM. de Collegno, de Lamothe, 

 Jacquot, and Eaulin ; it has been also experimentally solved by several success- 

 ftd trials made in the department. Many municipal administrations are, at this 

 moment, asking for instructions on the chances of success which their localities 

 offer for such enterprises. The Academy allying itself with this movement, 

 proposes the following : " A discussion of the "question of artesian borings in a 

 general manner for Aquitaine, upon the data which geology furnishes with respect 

 to the ground-slope of the aquitanic basin, its orographic characters and the levels 

 of absorption of water presented b}^ the difl'erent embanking rocks of its bor- 

 ders," Prize, a gold medal of 500 francs. 



