234 



NA TURE 



[January 4, 1906 



The Lalande prize (540 francs), the Yalz prize (460 

 francs), and the G. de Ponteicoulant prize (700 francs), for 

 the most interesting observation, memoir, or work in 

 astronomy published during the year. 



The (in prize (1500 francs), for a study of the natural 

 conditions in the Polar regions; the Tchihatchef prize 

 (3000 francs), for exploration in the lesser known portions 

 ol Asia. 



The Hubert prize (1000 francs), for a treatise or discovery 

 in the practical use of electricity ; the Hughes prize (2500 

 francs), for a discovery contributing to the progress "I 

 physics; the Gaston Plante - prize (3000 francs), for a 

 French author of a discovery, invention, or important work 

 in electricity; the La Caze prize (10,000 francs), for works 

 or memoirs contributing to the progress of pli > -i. ~ ; the 

 Kastner-Boursault prize (2000 francs), for the best work 

 on the applications of electricity in the arts, industry, or 

 commerce. 



The Jecker prize (10,000 francs), lor works useful to the 

 progress of organic chemistry; the Cahours prize (3000 

 francs), for the encouragement of young chemists ; tin 

 Montyon prize (2500 francs and 1500 francs), for the dis- 

 covery "1 a process rendering a trade or manufacture less 

 unhealthy. 



The grand prize of the physical sciences (3000 francs), 

 lor a study of underground water from the hygienic poinl 

 of view; the Delesse prize (1400 francs), for work in 

 geological or mineralogiial science. 



The Desmazieres prize (1600 francs), for the best work 

 during the year mi cryptogams; tin Montagne prize (1500 

 liancs), to tin- French author of the best work on the 

 anatomy, physiology, development, or description of the 

 lower cryptogams; the Thore prize (200 francs), for the 

 best work on the cellular cryptogams of Europe ; the 

 de Coincv prize (000 francs) ; the de la Fons-MeUicocq prize 

 (moo francs), for the best botanical work on the north of 

 France. 



The Savigny prize (1300 francs), for the assistance of 

 young travelling zoologists specially occupied with the study 

 of the Egyptian and Syrian invertebrates. 



A Montyon prize (2500 francs, mentions iy> francs), 

 for discoveries useful in the art of healing ; the Barbier 

 prize (2000 francs), to the author of .1 valuable discovery 

 in surgical, medical, pharmaceutical, or botanical science ; 

 tin- f 5 r . 1 11 1 prize (100,000 francs), lor the discovery ol a 

 radii al 1 are tor Asiatic cholera or for pointing out the 

 causes of cholera in such a manner that could lead to its 

 total suppression. Failing these, the interest will be 

 awarded annually for the proof of the existence in the air 

 of substances playing a part in the production or propaga- 

 tion of epidemic disease. The Godard prize (1000 francs), 

 for the best memoir on the anatomy, physiology, or path- 

 ology of the genito-urinary organs; the Baron l.arrey prize 

 (730 francs), for a memoir on military medicine, surgery 

 • 1 hygiene; the Bellion prize (1400 francs), for discoveries 

 profitable to the health of man; the M£ge prize (10,000 

 [rams); the Chaussier prize (10,000 francs), for a memoir 

 1 11 legal or practical medicine. 



A Montyon prize (750 francs) and the Philipeaux prize 

 (goo francs), for work in experimental physiology ; the I.alle- 

 mand prize (1X00 francs), for work on the nervous system ; 

 the Pourat prize (1000 francs), for a memoir on the utilisa- 

 tion of pentanes in animal organisms ; the La Caze prize 

 (10,000 francs), for a work on physiology. 



The Montyon prize 1300 francs), for a memoir on French 

 slatistii s. 



The Arago, Lavoisier, and Berthelot medals. The 

 Tremont prize (1100 francs); Gegner prize (3S00 francs); 



the Lannelongue prize (2000 francs); Wilde prize (41 :> 



francs), for memoirs in the subjects of astronomy, physics, 

 chemistry, geology, or experimental mechanics ; the Sain- 



tour prize (3 , Irani s); the Petit d'Ormoy prize (two of 



10,000 francs), one for pure and applied mathematics, the 

 other for on,- ,,1 the natural sciences; the Leconte prize 

 (30,000 francs) ; the Pierson-Perrin prize (3000 francs) ; the 

 prize founded by Mine, la Marquise de Laplace; the Felix 

 Rivot prize (230,1 frani 5) 



December 31, 1906, will be the last day for sending in 

 memoirs for the above prizes. The prizes bearing the 

 ■ •inies ,,f Tchihatchef, La Caze, Delesse, Wilde,' and 

 Leconte are awarded without preference of nationality. 

 NO. 1888, VOL. 73] 



VOLCANIC ROCKS FROM SEW ZEALAND. 1 



HTHE district dealt with in this memoir is part of the 

 principal gold-field of New Zealand. The igneous rocks 

 here, which are the source of the gold, are of Tertiary 

 age, though an older series, of Pakeozoic age, occurs in 

 tie same district. There had been no previous petro- 

 graphical study of the rocks, of a kind at once com- 

 prehensive and detailed, when a specially made collection 

 of 500 specimens was placed in the hands of Prof. Sollas 

 for description, and the report now before us consequently 

 contains much valuable material. Mr. McKay tells us that 

 the principal object of invoking the aid of this well known 

 petrologisl was to place the nomenclature of the rocks on 

 a more satisfactory footing. Whatever the object, we are 

 glad to welcome the result, and we also accept gratefully 

 the lavish illustration which attests the liberality of the 

 New Zealand Government. There are upward of 100 

 [dates, reproduced by " process " from photographs, most 



of them representing thin slices ol rocks photographed from 

 the microscope. A figure measuring 7 inches by 3 inches 

 affords a much better conception of the micro-structure of 

 a rock than ran lie gained from the illustrations in most 

 petrographical memoirs. 



The introductory section by Mr. McKay gives a historical 

 account of the district, with bibliographical references, 

 ami also sets forth the bearings of Prof. Sollas's results 

 upon the general geology of the district. The Tertiary 

 volcanic rocks ate all andesites, dacites, and rhyolites. 

 We may note here a striking contrast with the southern 

 part of New Zealand, where, in the neighbourhood of 

 Dunrdin, is found a great variety of phonolites, tinguaites, 

 trachytes, and other types rich in alkalies. The sequence 

 in the Cape Colville district is also of interest. The 



1 "The Rocks of Cape Colville Peninsula, Auckland, New Zealand." 

 By Prof. Sollas, F.R.S. With an Introduction and Descriptive Notes bv 

 Alexander McKay, Government Geologist, N.Z. Vol. i. Pp. viii 4-289 ; 

 with many plates. (Wellington, 1505.) 



