199 



§} Meteorology, Electricity, S^c. 



1. Meteorological Prize Question. — The following subject is to 

 be rewarded by the Academy of Dijon in 1821, by a gold medal 

 of 300 francs value : 



" How far, in the present state of natural philosophy, can 

 aqueous meteorological phenomena be explained ?" The me- 

 moirs to be sent to the secretary of the academy, before March 

 1, 1821, accompanied by a closed billet, as usual. 



2. Conductor for Lightning. — M. Capestolle, a French pro- 

 fessor of chemistry, affirms, that a rope of straw will form an 

 excellent conductor for lightning, and supply the place of 

 metallic conductors. M. Capestolle's confidence appears to 

 be founded on the circumstance, that if a strongly charged 

 Leyden jar be touched with a rope of straw held in the hand no 

 shock is felt; or spark perceived, yet the phial is discharged. 

 It is to be hoped that but few persons will trust to this new kind 

 of conducting-rod. 



3. Red Snoio of the Alps, from the neighbourhood of St. 

 Bernard. — The editors of the JBiMo^^e^rwe Universelle, in illus- 

 tration of this subject, had engaged the prior of the convent of 

 Great St. Bernard, to make his observations on the red snow 

 found in the neighbourhood of his convent, and to j^nswer a 

 series of questions drawn up respecting it. The result of his 

 answers is as follows : It is permanent ; always occurs in the 

 same place, generally plains at the foot of inclined surfaces, 

 covered with snow ; does not colour snow that falls on it. It is 

 found at the heights of Buet, St. Bernard, Col de la Seigne, and 

 Bonhomme ; and also above and below, if masses of snow exist 

 large enough to remain through the summer. It is found some- 

 times on the glaciers. It is most abundant after strong winds 

 from the west and south-west; occurs two or three inches in depth; 

 is most abundant as the summer advances ; is found in the 

 greatest quantities, and most highly coloured, in the beds of the 



