the node of the periodical comet of Biela. It has been discovered 
quite recently that an analogy exists between the orbits of comets 
and meteoric showers ; but in reference to this interesting part 
of the subject I would, however, without occupying further space, 
direct attention to a paper by Prof. Alexander 5. Herschel, which 
appears in the monthly notices, R. A. S., vol. xxxii, No. 9. 
Several correspondents describe an aurora borealis visible on 
the 27th ; and it may be appropriate to note here that a very 
brilliant display was witnessed at Bristol on the 24th, at about 
3AM. It was very intense at that time. On the previous and 
subsequent nights lightning was very frequent, and meteors more 
numerous than usual, WILLIAM F, DENNING 
Bristol, Nov. 30 
THERE was a magnificent meteor-shower here on the evening 
of Wednesday last, the 27th. My attention was first called to 
it about half-past five o’clock, and I watched it at intervals until 
about seven, when the sky became overcast with clouds. It 
really was a shower, and no mistake, the sky at times quite 
sparkling with meteors. Their point of origin appeared to be in 
the neighbourhood of Cassiopeia, and their general direction 
towards the west and norih, though several radiated to the east 
and south. Some, after becoming invisible, as if passing bebind 
some intervening cause, suddenly emerged in all their bright- 
ness and then suddenly vanished. The streak left behind was 
in some instances a continuous, smooth line, in others the ap- 
pearance was that of a row of sparks strung together. The 
finest meteor, and the one of longest duration, that I noticed 
became visible near Cygni, and continued its course to a point a 
little to the south of Vega. It resembled a small rocket. On 
the following evening the sky was too overcast to make observa- 
tions. THOMAS FAWCETT 
Blencowe School, Cumberland, Noy. 30 
THE splendid meteor-shower of November 27 was well seen 
at St. Andrews. My attention was not called to it until after 
the meteors had begun to decline in frequency ; but they were 
still at about 8h. 30m. G, M.T., so numerous as to give consider- 
able confidence in assigning their radiant point, about which 
they were seen shooting out in all directions. Isawat least two, 
whose paths were foreshortened almost to a luminous point. 
These appeared very close to the radiant near two stars in the 
right foot of Andromeda, which in the maps of the Society for 
the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge are numbered 51 and 54, 
orinabout R.A. 25°, N. Decl. 48°. The sky became overcast ; 
but abovt 11h. 30m., meteors were still falling in directions 
which confirmed my previous estimate of the position of their 
radiant. The sky was again clear at th. 30m. A.M., but I saw 
no more meteors. 
I have since seen, in a table by Schiaparelli, from observa- 
tions by Zerzioli, 1867-69, and under the date November 30. a 
radiant point in R.A. 17°, Decl. 48°, which agrees closely with 
that which I have ventured to assign to the remarkable shower 
of November 27. P| W. Swan 
St. Andrews, Noy. 30 
Metamorphosis of Insects 
Tue description of the development of the Lepidopterous 
wings, and the illustrations which were included in my lecture 
on Insect Metamorphosis, were taken from Landois’ admirable 
cssay in Siebold and A. Kolliker’s Zeitschrift (1871). 
Nov. 25 P, MARTIN DUNCAN 
PRIZES OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY OF 
SCIENCES 
AT its annual public meeting on Noy. 25 last the French 
Academy of Sciences awarded its prizes for the years 1870 
and 187i. M. Faye gave a brief introductory address, in which 
he touchingly alluded to the misfortunes to science arising from 
the late war, to the various preparations for the forthcoming 
transit of Venus, the metric commission, and other matters of scien- 
tific interest. It ison account of the war that at this annual 
meeting the Academy had to award prizes for two years, namely, 
for 1870 and 1871. The list of prizes was as follows:— 
Competition ef 1870,—1. ‘The G:and- Prize in the mathe- 
matical sciences this year was offered for a paper on the modifi- F 
cation which light undergoes in its mode of transmission andin 
its properties, in consequence of the movement of the luminous — 
source and the movement of the observer. This prize was not — 
awarded, but a bonus of 2,500 francs was given to M. E, | 
Mascart. ; 
2. The Poncelet Prize was awarded to M. C. Jordan for his 
treatise on Algebraic Substitutions and Equations. . & 
3. The Dalmont Prize was gained by M. Maurice Levy for 
his four memoirs on (1) Running Water, (2) The Pressure of 
Earths, (3) The Interior Movements of ductile Solids, (4) Curvi- — 
linear Co-ordinates. } 
4. The Lalande Prize in Astronomy to Mr. Huggins, forhis 
Discoveries on the Physical Constitution of Stars, Nebule, 
Planets, and Comets. The Commissioners for this prize speak 
in the highest terms of Mr. Huggins’ discoveries, declaring that 
they mark a brilliant epoch in this new branch of science. a 
5. The Montyon Prize in statistics, to M. A. Potiquet for his 
work entitled, ‘‘L’ Institut de France, &c. ;” and honourable men- _ 
tion was made of M. A. Thévenot for the agricultural part of 
his work entitled ‘General Statistics of the Canton of 
Ramerupt,” and to M. A. Castan for his memoic on the Influ- 
ence of Temperature upon Mortality in the City of Mont- 
pellier. $ 
6. The Jecker Prize.—MM. Clermont, Gal, and Grimaux, — 
each obtained, by way of bonus, the sum of 1,700 francs for 
their works on Organic Chemistry. 
7. The Barbier Prize was awarded to M. Personne for his 
Researches upon Chloral. pa 
8. The Desmaziéres Prize to M. de Notaris for his work 
entitled ‘‘ Epilogo della Briologia Italiana”; while honourable _ 
mention was made of M. C. Roumeguére for his work entitled — 
‘* Cryptogamy Illustrated ; or, History of the Natural Families 
of the Acotyledonous Plants of Europe.” a 
9. The Thoré Prize to M. J. C. Schiédte, for his work upon — 
the Metamorphoses of the Coleoptera, 2 
10. The Bordin Prize, for the Comparative Anatomy of Anne- — 
lids, to M. Léon Vaillant for his works on that subject. 5 
11, The Savigny Prize was divided between M. Issel for — 
his work entitled,‘* The Malacology of the Red Sea” (Italian), 
and Mr. MacAndrew for his researches into the Malacologic ~ 
Fauna of the Red Sea. a 
12, The Bréant Prize. The reward of 5,000 francs, the whole 
of the annual interest ‘of the legacy, was divided between M. 
Grimaud (of Caux), for his Researches concerning the Trans- 
missibility of Cholera, and M, Thalorzan, for his work entitled 
‘*New Origin of Asiatic Cholera.” Honourable mention was — 
made of M, Bourgogne, jun., for his work entitled ‘‘ Cholera — 
Epidemic in the Communes of Condé, Vieux-Condé, Fresnes, 
and Escaupont, during the year 1866,” ee 
13. The Chaussier Prize, to M. Tardieu, for his works on 
Legal Medicine. a 
14. The Montyon Prize in Medicine and Surgery. Two prizes — 
of 2,500 francs were awarded—(1) To MM. Lancereaux and 
Lackerbauer for their treatise on Pathological Anatomy; (2) To _ 
Dr. Chassagny, for his work entitled ‘‘ Method of Continued 
Tractions, The forceps considered as an agent of prehension 
and traction.” Bonuses of 1,200. francs were given—(1) To 
MM. Colze and Feltz, for their researches into Infectious 
Maladies, &c.; (2) To M. Jousset, for his experiments upon the 
Poison of the Scorpion; (3) To M. Decaisne for his memoirs 
upon the Temperature of Sick Children, and on the influence of 
Alimentation upon the composition of Female Milk; (4) To | 
M. Despies, for his work on Ulceration and the Ulcers of the 
Neck of the Uterus. The works of M. V. Fumouze upon — 
the Spectra of Absorption of the Blood of M. Bergeret, on the — 
Changes of the Urine, and of Bile in various Diseases, were — 
honourably mentioned, = 
15. The Godard Prize was awarded to M. C. Mauriac for his 
work entitled ‘‘ Essay on the Reflex Symptomatic Neuralgias of 
Blenorrhagic Parastatitis.” wy 
16. The Montyon Prize, in Experimental Physiology, to M. — “4 
J. Raulin, for his Chemical Studies on Vegetation. a 
17. The Montyon Prize, fora paper on Unhealthy Occupa- — 
tions, was awarded to M. Guibal for his System of Ventilation 
applied to the Airing of Mines. 
18, The Gegner Prize to M. Duclaux. 
19. The Tremont Prize to M. Leroux, who will hold it for 
three years. F 
20, The Laplace Prize was obtained by M. II. B, X. Bou‘: 
4 
