2 
of the Royal Society contain several specimens of able Biographies of the kind 
here referred to. The Council are anxious to see a continuation of the series. 
5. The Council impose no restriction as to the length of the Essays, which 
may be, at the discretion of the Council, read at the Ordinary Meetings of the 
Society. They wish also to leave the property and free disposal of the manu- 
scripts to the Authors; a copy, however, being depbsited in the archives of the 
Society, unless the Paper shall be published in the Transactions. 
NEILL PRIZE. 
The Council of the Royal Society of Edinburgh having received the bequest of 
the late Dr Patrick Netz of the sum of £500, for the purpose of “ the interest 
thereof being applied in furnishing a Medal or other reward every second or third 
year to any distinguished Scottish Naturalist, according as such Medal or reward 
shall be voted by the Council of the said Society,” hereby intimate, 
1. That the First Neu Prize, consisting of a Gold Medal and a sum of 
Money, will be awarded before the close of the Session 1858-9. 
2. The Prize will be given for a Paper of distinguished merit, on a subject of 
Natural History, by a Scottish Naturalist, which shall have been presented to 
the Society during the three years preceding the Ist February 1859,—or failing 
presentation of a Paper sufficiently meritorious, it will be awarded for a work 
or publication by some distinguished Scottish Naturalist, on some branch of 
Natural History, bearing date within five years of the time of award. 
