PRIZE QUESTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 443 



matter secreted by glands situated near the jaws of crocodiles, which 

 yields a strong odor of musk. 



11. It is desirable to have an exact anatomical description of the 

 sturgeon, (Accijjenser sfurio,) with, a monograph of its development 

 from the egg to the adult animal. 



12. The society wishes that the remains of castors and emydes 

 found in bog« at places where these animals do not now live should 

 be compared with living species of these same animals. 



13. Are there earthquakes which should be attributed only to 

 the giving way of strata situated at a greater or less depth; and if so, 

 by what signs may they be recognized ? 



14. It has been observed that oxj-gen conducts the currents of 

 induction of Ruhmkorff's apparatus only when its tension has been 

 reduced to the pressure of six millimetres of mercury, and that start- 

 ing from this point its conducting power increases when its tension 

 is diminished until this is but 0.5 millimetres, at Avhich this power 

 seems to attain its maximum. The society desires that this phenom- 

 enon should be confirmed by new experiments, and that in comparing 

 it with whatever of an analogous kind is presented by other gases 

 its cause should be made apparent. 



The society would call to mind that it last year proposed the fol-' 

 lowing questions, with a view to their being answered before the 1st 

 of January, 1863: 



1. Throughout Europe the diluvial contains bones of mammifers. 

 The society asks a comparative examination of the deposit of these 

 bones in different places, conducting, if not with certainty, at least 

 with a high degree of probability, to a knowledge of the causes of 

 their interment, and of the manner in which it was effected. 



2. In certain formations of the island of Java are to be found highly 

 remarkable polythalames. The society desires a description, accom- 

 panied by figures, of some species of this kind not heretofore de- 

 scribed. 



3. It is highly probable that the chain of mountains which bounds 

 Dutch Guiana contains auriferous veins, and that the detritus at the 

 foot of that chain contains gold. The society desires a geological 

 description of that chain of mountains with the result of a mineralo- 

 gical examination of its detritus. 



4. The society desires as complete a list as possible of the rep- 

 tiles w^hich inhabit the countries in the neighborhood of the Dutch 

 possession of St. George del Mina, on the coast of Guinea, wdth a de- 

 scription of the new species. 



5. An anatomical description is desired of the sea-calf {Trichecus 

 martafus, L.,) which is found in the Dutch colonies of America, with 

 an account of the habits of the animal from observations made by the 

 author. 



6. There is desired a chemical examination of the phosphorescent 

 matter of the Lanipyris noctiluca and of the Lampyris splendidnla. 



7. The celebrated astronomer, G. B. Airy, has lately expressed 

 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. xix, No. 5,) 

 some doubts regarding the manner in which it has hitherto been at- 



