430 PRIZE QUESTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 



to whicli a velocity lias been communicated in a given direction and 

 "which moves in the atmosphere, allowing that its resistance is pro- 

 portioned to the square of the velocity, and considering the sphere 

 as an inert mass without weight. 



3. As chemical affinities undergo remarkable modifications by a 

 change of temperature, and as there is now no difficulty in obtaining 

 heat of great intensity, the society requests a series of researches on 

 affinity at very high temperatures. 



4. The conducting power of a metallic wire when traversed for 

 some time b}' a galvanic current becomes diminished; this effect, if 

 not constant, at least disappears but slowly. The society desires in- 

 quiry into the laws which regulate this phenomenon. 



5. We require an anatomical description of the bony labyrinth of 

 the organ of hearing, founded on new researches, and applied to the 

 physiology of the ear. 



6. We require new experimental researches upon the phenomenon 

 known under the name of fluorescence, making it an especial object 

 to determine what relation exists between this phenomenon and the 

 light produced by substances luminous of themselves, or which be- 

 come so by friction or by exposure to the sun. 



7. The active state of oxygen (ozone) has already engaged the 

 attention of very many scientific men; an analogous state has been sup- 

 posed to be observed in many other gaseous fluids, but the observa- 

 tions are neither sufficiently numerous nor sufficiently exact. The 

 society desires new researches, with the view to throwing new light 

 upon this 'phenomenon. 



8. The researches of Spence Bate have made known the fact that 

 some of the small Crustacea construct a nest for themselves. The 

 society invites an exact examination of the nidification in the case of 

 the species already known to practice it, and, if possible, in the case 

 of other Crustacea also. The material of which the nests are con- 

 structed, as well as the means employed by the Crustacea in the con- 

 struction, should engage the attention of the examiner. 



9. Many trees have their stems twisted spirally. We would ask 

 a general physiological explanation of this phenomenon. 



10. We want an exact examination of the volcano in the island of 

 Amboyna, (Dutch East Indies,) to determine with precision whether 

 that volcano owes its origin to an upheaving of the ancient strata of 

 the true non-volcanic soil of the island, or whether it is the product ^ 

 of non-coherent matters thrown out by the volcano and accumulated 

 around a crater. 



The society recalls the fact that in preceding years it proposed the 

 following questions to be replied to before the first of January, 1859: 



1. On passing an electric current through the helix of the electro 

 magnet, the iron does not immediately take the whole magnetic force 

 that the current is capable of giving, and, in like manner, the mag- 

 netism of the iron does not suddenly disappear on the breaking of 

 the circuit. The society desires exact experiments for the determi- 



