Society of Natural Knowledge of Zurich. H.'* 



SOCIETY OF NATURAL KNOWLEDGE OF ZURICH, 



The Society of Natural Knowledge at Zurich met during the 

 6th, 7th, and Sth of October 1S17. The first prize offered by the 

 Society presents a question of the highest interest. Several men 

 of learning have asserted, and several others have repeated after 

 them, that the climate is become insensibly more rough and cold 

 in the elevated parts of Switzerland. In the absence of direct 

 proof from thermometric observation, the fovn* following cir- 

 cumstances have been urged as facts in sujjport- of the opinion 

 alluded to : 



1. Historical evidence of many parts of the Alps havino; been 

 once pasturage, which are now wholly unproductive. 2. Histo- 

 rical evidence and still remaining traces of tlie existence of forests 

 above what now is the boundary of the vegetation of trees. 3, 

 The progressive lowering of the line of permanent snow. 4. The 

 progress made by the Glaciers in manv parts of Switzerland. — 

 The following is the question proposed upon this interesting sub- 

 ject : — " Is it true that the Upper Alps of Switzerland are be- 

 come more rough and cold during a series of years ?" This 

 question requiring an answer by facts only, the Society requires 

 of the candidates — " 1. That they shall collect the testimonies, 

 ancient and modern, of the deterioration and decay of pasturage 

 ill the Upper Alps. 2. That they shall submit the authenticity 

 of these testimqnies to a critical examination. 3. Tliat they 

 shall distinguish the instances of ancient pasturage become ste- 

 rile by other causes than cold, such as the decomposition of 

 impending rocks, avalanches, &c. 4. That they shall examine 

 the historical evidence of the vegetation of trees existing above 

 the present boundary. 5. That they shall collect the greatest 

 possible number of observations relative to the height of the 

 boundary line of snow, and the epoch at which in different years 

 cattle have descended from the Upper Alps. 6. That they shall 

 bring together the observations of a series of years on the in- 

 crease and partial diminution of the Glaciers in the transverse 

 valleys, and their formation and disappearance in the higher re- 

 gions. Lastly, that they shall investigate the ancient limits of 

 certain Glaciers marked out by the fragments of rocks which 

 they drove before them." 



If to all these researches it were possible to add authentic de- 

 tails respecting the neighbouring mountains of Savoy and the 

 Tyrol, it would be a great advantage towards the solution of the 

 general question. The essays are to be written in German, 

 Latin, or French, and sent in to the President of the Society be- 

 fore the 1st of January 1820. The first and second prize of 600 

 ^ancs an4300 francs are to be decided in the same year. 



Vol. 51. No. 238. Feb. 1817. K XXVII. Tn- 



