January 4, 1900] 



NATURE 



237 



PRIZES PROPOSED B V THE PARIS ACADEMY 

 OF SCIENCES FOR 1900. 



nrilE Grand Prix des Sciences Mafhematiques will be awarded 

 in 1900 for an improvement, in any important point, of our 

 knowledge of the number of classes of quadratic forms of two 

 unknowns with entire coefficients ; the Bordin Prize (3000 

 francs), for the development and improvement of the theory of 

 surfaces applicable to the paralx)loid of revolution ; the Fran- 

 cceur Prize (1000 francs), for discoveries useful to the progress of 

 pure or applied mathematics ; the Poncelet Prize (20CX) francs), 

 for any similar work published during the last ten years. 



In Mechanics : the Extraordinary Prize of 6000 francs will 

 be given for any work increasing the efficiency of the French 

 navy ; the Montyon Prize (700 francs), for the invention or im- 

 provement of instruments useful to the progress of agriculture, 

 the mechanical arts or sciences ; the Plumey Prize (2500 francs), 

 for improvements in steam engines or any invention contributing 

 most to the progress of steam navigation. 



In Astronomy: the Lalande Prize (540 francs) is offered for 

 the most interesting observations, or work most useful to the 

 progress of astronomy; the Damoiseau Prize (1500 francs), for 

 a memoir on the theory of one of the periodic comets of which 

 several returns have been observed ; the Valz Prize, for the 

 author of the most interesting astronomical observation made 

 during the year ; the Janssen Prize (a gold medal), for the most 

 important discovery in physical astronomy ; and an anonymous 

 prize of 1500 francs, as an encouragement to the calculators of 

 the minor planets, especially those discovered in the Nice 

 ■ Observatory. 



In Statistics : a Montyon Prize of 500 francs, for a memoir on 

 questions bearing on French statistics. 



In Chemistry: the Jecker Prize (10,000 francs), for organic 

 chemistry, and the Wilde Prize (4000 francs). 



In Mineralogy and Geology : the Vaillant Prize (4000 francs) 

 wilt be awarded in 1900 for a rigorous determination of one or 

 more atomic weights, or for the study of alloys. 



In Botany : the Barbier Prize (2000 francs) is intended to 

 recompense whoever makes a valuable discovery in the medical, 

 surgical, or pharmaceutical sciences, or in botany, in relation to 

 the art of healing ; the Desmazieres Prize (1600 francs), for a 

 memoir on the cryptogams : the Montagne Prizes (1000 francs 

 and "joo francs), for work on the anatomy, physiology, develop- 

 ment, or description of the lower cryptogams ; and the Thore 

 Prize (200 francs) to the author of the best memoir on the 

 cellular cryptogams of Europe (algre, mosses, lichens, or fungi), 

 or on the anatomy of any species of European insect. 



In Anatomy and Zoology : the Savigny Prize (975 francs), in 

 aid of young travelling zoologists not receiving Government aid, 

 more especially those occupying themselves with the invertebrates 

 of Egypt and Syria ; the Da Gama Machado Prize (1200 francs), 

 for the best memoir on the coloured parts of the tegumentary 

 system of animals. 



In Medicine and Surgery : a Montyon Prize, for any discovery 

 useful in the art of healing ; the Breant Prize (100,000 francs), 

 for a specific antidote against Asiatic cholera, or for such a 

 discovery of the causes of Asiatic cholera that those causes may 

 be suppressed and the disease stamped out. The interest on 

 the capital sum will be awarded for a rigorous demonstration of 

 the existence in the atmosphere of materials capable of pro- 

 pagating epidemic diseases; the Godard Prize (1000 francs), for 

 the best memoir on the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of 

 the genito-urinary organs ; the Parkin Prize (3400 francs), as a 

 recompense for researches upon either the curative effects of 

 carbon and carbon dioxide, or for the effects of volcanic action 

 upon the spreading of epidemic diseases ; the Bellion Prize 

 (1400 francs), for works or discoveries especially'profitable to the 

 health of man ; the Mege Prize, for a study of the causes which 

 have favoured or retarded the progress of medicine ; the Dusgate 

 Prize, for the best work on the diagnosis of death, and on the 

 means of preventing premature burial ; the Lallemand >Prize 

 i 1800 francs), for work on the nervous system ; and the Baron 

 Larrey Prize (lOOO francs), for the best work treating of military 

 medicine, surgery, or hygiene. 



In Physiology : a Montyon Prize of 750 francs is offered 

 mnually ; the Pomat Prize (1400 francs), for a determination of 

 !he principal anthropometric data; the Martin-Damourette 

 I'rize (1400 francs) and the Philipeaux Prize (890 francs), for 

 work in experimental physiology. In Physical Geography, 

 the Gay Prize (2500 francs), for the application to a portion of 



NC. 1575. VOL. 61] 



France, or a portion of the Alpine Chain, of the analysis of the 

 geological circumstances wFfich have determined the actual 

 conditions of relief and hydrography. 



Of the General Prizes, the following may be awarded in 

 1900 : the Arago Medal, the Montyon Prize (unhealthy trades), 

 theCuvier Prize (1500 francs), the Tremont Prize (lioo francs), 

 the Gegner Prize (4000 francs), the. Delalande-Guerineau Prize 

 (1000 francs), the Jerome Ponti Prize (3500 francs), the Tchi- 

 hatchef Prize (3000 francs\ the Boileau Prize (1300 francs), the 

 HouUevigne Prize (5000 francs), theCahours Prize (3000 francs), 

 and the Saintour Prize (3000 francs). 



T^ 



GEOLOGY OF JAMAICAN 

 IIIRTY years have elapsed since the publication of the 

 ' Reports on the Geology of Jamaica," by James G. 

 Sawkins and others, with an appendix by Robert Etheridge ; 

 a work published as one of the "Memoirs of the Geological 

 Survey." In the work before us Mr. Robert T. Hill deals anew 

 with the subject, his observations being based upon surveys 

 made for Alexander Agassiz ; and he has evidently spared no 

 pains to investigate the geology and physical geography of the 

 island in a thorough manner in accordance with modern know- 

 ledge. It is interesting to find him referring to the early papei 

 written by De la Beche for the Geological Society in 1828 as 

 " more in harmony with the conclusions to be presented by us 

 than the subsequent and more extensive reports of the official 

 surveys which supplanted them." 



Mr. Hill considers that Jamaica presents a more favourable 

 opportunity for detailed geologic investigation than any other 

 tropical area. Highways, bridle-paths, and railways intersect 

 the land in various directions, to say nothing of the coast-cliffs. 

 Hence there is no lack of geological sections, and the author 

 has had great advantages over those who preceded him. He re- 

 marks that the earlier researches " failed to solve the essential 

 problems of the succession and age of the strata," and that the 

 literature of no other region, especially that relating to palaeon- 

 tology, "presents so many erroneous conclusions." Curiously 

 enough the author attributes this stratigraphic confusion, not 

 to incompetence, but "to an act of Providence." It is well 

 known that the original Director of the Jamaican Geological 

 Survey, Lucas Barrett, was drowned in a diving-dress, and it is 

 pointed out that the endeavours to interpret his opinions were 

 the chief sources of subsequent erroneous conclusions. The 

 stratigraphical errors were largely those of correlation, for it is 

 admitted that otherwise the official reports were full of valuable 

 data. 



The author now starts afresh in naming and classifying the 

 formations, using geographical terms, rather than those of a 

 lithological or palaeontological nature. The island is made up 

 of Cretaceous, Eocene, Oligocene, Pliocene, and younger de- 

 posits, together with intrusive rocks. In adopting geographical 

 names it would have been well, if possible, to have avoided the 

 use of those names which are not original to the island, but are 

 familiar elsewhere ; to speak of the Jerusalem, Richmond, and 

 Falmouth beds of Jamaica is at least unfortunate. So far as 

 they go the Yallahs, Catadupa, and Manchioneal beds sound 

 more appropriate, and the same may be said of the Bogue 

 Island formation. 



Evidence is given to show that locally the Cretaceous, 

 Eocene and Oligocene formations were stratigraphically con- 

 tinuous, and we have a succession upwards from detrital to 

 oceanic deposits. The higher Eocene beds contain Cerithiuvi, 

 Lticina, and Rudistes. 



The white limestones of the Jamaican series are shown to 

 represent several distinct ages, from Cretaceous to Recent, but 

 the main mass belongs to the Oligocene. This mass forms the 

 large plateau region which is really a dissected plain, rising in 

 places to 3000 feet. It is known as "the cock-pit country," 

 on account of the numerous swallow-holes, which vary from 

 shallow circular basins to sink-holes 500 feet in depth. They 

 are characterised by a bright red clayey soil, a residue from the 

 dissolution of the limestone. Dykes of diorite and granitic 

 rock penetrate Cretaceous, Eocene and Oligocene strata. The 

 coastal deposits include various gravels, marls, and reef-beds 

 of later Tertiary and Recent ages. 



1 "The Geology and Physical Geography of Jamaica : Study ofaXypeof 

 Antillean Development." By Robert T Hill, Bull. Museum Comp. Zool. 

 Haivard Coll., vol. <xxxiv., 1899, pp. 256 ; with 41 plates. (Cambridge 

 Mass.) 



