$38 French National Institute. 



thinks to perform a service to the cause of science by point- 

 ino; out to anatomists the orders or genera respecting which 

 It is important to be in possession of further intormaiion, 

 and with this view has chosen the following as the ])rize 

 question : " Ascertain if there exists a circulation in the 

 animals known by the name of astcrice, or sea stars ; echini, 

 or sea hedgehogs ; and holotkurice, or sea priapi : and in 

 the event of a circulation existing, describe its prepress and 

 the organs connected with it." 



This descripiion will probably be accompanied with ob- 

 servations made on I'vinir animals, and take a view of the 

 vessels of the organs of respiration, \s there arc peculiar 

 organs of this description-, as well as those of the great cir- 

 culation. It would also be proper to examine the chemical 

 efl'ect of respiration on air and water. This is not an in- 

 dispensable requisite, however. The examination ofonti 

 species only in each of the three families is expected ; but 

 it is requisite that it sboulil be profound, and accompanied 

 by intelligible drawings. The prize offered is 3Q00 francs, 

 and the competitors must sive in their meinoirs on or be- 

 fore the 1st of October 1810. The prize will be publicly 

 awarded on the first Monday in January. 



A prize had been last year offered for an investigation of 

 the causes of the various kinds of phosphorescence ; but so 

 manv memoirs were transmitted on the subject, and thev 

 were so full of experiments, that the comtnitlee appointed 

 to decide on their merits have posiponed delivering -their 

 opinion. 



M. de Lalande, on offering a medal to the author of the 

 newest and most curious observation, was vrcll aware that 

 it could not be awarded every year to discoveries so brilliant 

 as those of the planets perceived by Messrs. Fia:^zi, Olbers, 

 and Hardinsi: he has therefore desired, that when there 

 were no observations of so uu)ch interest, the medal should 

 be given to the author of the best memoir on any astrono- 

 mical subject \ and if there should be no such memoir, he 

 expressed a wish that the recompense in question should be 

 granted to any pupil who hasdemonstrated zeal, constancy, 

 and perseverance, in the study of astronomy. 



The Instiuitc, to whose lot it has not fallen this year to 

 coutmeniorate a newly-discovered [djnet, or to reward a 

 memoir of anv interest, has profited by bestowing the me- 

 dal as an encouragement. 



MM. Arago and Mathieu were the two astronomers who 

 were considered as having the best claims to tliis gratuity. 



The former had been long employed as assistant to 



M. Bouvard 



