January 9, 1902] 



NA TURE 



233 



and the Insectivores have risen from 26 species to 47 species 

 and 22 subspecies. It is, of course, only natural that a 

 considerable increase of species should have taken place 

 in both these groups, as numerous and active collectors 

 sent out by the United States National Museum and by 

 the Agricultural Department at Washington have of late 

 years traversed every part of the large western States and 

 the adjoining districts of Mexico, where the members of these 

 two groups are found in abundance. The collections thus made 

 have been worked out by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Mr. Allen and 

 other well-known American naturalists, who have specially de- 

 voted their energies to the study of these groups of mammals. 

 It may be fairly stated that in the opinion of many naturalists 

 (who perhaps in these days would be pronounced to be some- 

 what old-fashioned) the process of the subdivision of species 

 (vulgularly called "splitting'') has, in some cases, been carried 

 too far, especially as regards .subspecies. At the same time 

 there is no doubt about the high character of the work executed 

 so diligently by Dr. Merriam and his confreres. We may point 

 out. however, that the same kind of subdivision has been 

 carried on also, to a certain extent, amongst the larger mammals. 

 On turning over the pages of Mr. Elliot's "List" it will be 

 noticed that the reindeer (Raiigifer) of North America, which 

 the old-fashioned naturalists have hitherto classed as being 

 specifically inseparable from the European form (R. ta>-a)tdiis), 

 is now held to consist of seven different species, and that the 

 Rocky Mountain .sheep, of which, until lately, orvly a single 

 species was generally recognised, has been split into four or 

 five species. Referring to the Carnivora, we find the southern 

 lynx (Felis riifa) divided into nine subspecies, and the Virginian 

 fox (Catiis t>irginianiis) into seven subspecies. The bears of 

 North America, according to Mr. Elliot's " List," now consist 

 of nine species, besides three subspecies. We in Europe have 

 been accustomed to refer them all to three species only. In a 

 similar way the skunks of North .\merica (Mephitis) of which 

 Baird only recognised five species, are now held to number 

 no less than twenty species and four subspecies, divided into 

 three genera. 



What we have stated (to which more remarks of a similar 

 character might ea.sily be added) will serve to show that a great 

 revolution is now taking place in the mode of treating the 

 mammals by American workers. .Symptoms of the same class 

 of work have also occurred in Europe, but the process has not 

 been carried on here to so great an extent, nor has it met 

 with such general acceptance. Whatever may be its results it 

 will certainly be necessary to add greatly to the space now 

 occupied by the mammals in museums of natural history, for 

 it is only a very large series of specimens that will enable the con- 

 scientious student to decide between the opposing claims of the 

 " splitters " and the " lumpers," and to decide what are species 

 and what are subspecies. 



PRIZE SUBJECTS OF THE PARIS ACADEMY 



OF SCIENCES. 

 'T'HE Comptes reiidiis of the Paris Academy of Sciences for 

 December 16, 1901, contains a list of the prizes proposed 

 for the years 1902, 1903. 1904, 1905 and 1906. The subjects 

 pro])osed for the current year include the following : — 



Geomeliy. — The subject proposed for the grand prize of the 

 mathematical sciences is to perfect, in an important point, the 

 application of the theory of continued groups to the study of 

 partial differential equations ; for the Bordin prize (3000 fr.), 

 to develop and perfect the theory of surfaces applicable to the 

 paraboloid of revolution ; the Francrcur prize (1000 fr. ) and the 

 Poncelet prize (2000 fr. ) will be awarded for works useful to 

 the progress of pure or applied mathematics. 



Mechanics. — The Plumey prize (2500 fr. ) for an improvement 

 in the steam engine or any other invention contributing to the 

 progress of steam navigation ; a Montyon prize (700 fr.) for in- 

 vention or improvement of instruments ; extraordinary prize of 

 6000 fr. for any invention tending to improve the efficacy of 

 the French naval forces. 



Astronomy. — The subject announced for the Damniseau prize 

 (1500 fr.) is the completion of the theory of Saturn as given by 

 Le \'errier, publishing the rectifying formuUi: and establishing 

 the agreement between theory and observation ; the Janssen 



NO. 1680, VOL. 65] 



gold medal for an important discovery in physical astronomy ; 

 and the Lalande (540 fr. ) and Valz (460 fr. ) for general work in 

 astronomy. 



Geography and Navigation. — The Binoux prize (3030 fr. ) will 

 be awarded for the best work on this subject. 



Physics. — The Hebert prize (1000 fr.) for a practical appli- 

 cation of electricity. 



Statistics. — A Montyon prize (500 fr.) for a memoir on the 

 statistics of France. 



Chemistry. — The Jecker prize (io,ooofr.) for work tending 

 to the progress of organic chemistry. 



Jihtieralogy and Geology. — The Fontannes prize (2000 fr. ), to 

 the author of the best paljeontological publication. 



Physical Geography. — The Gay prize (2500 fr. ) for a memoir 

 on the progress realised in the nineteenth century in the study 

 and representation of the earth. 



Botany. — The Desmazieres prize (1600 fr.) will be awarded, 

 independently of nationality, to the author of the best work on 

 cryptogams ; the Montagne prize (500 fr. ) for a memoir on the 

 anatomy, physiology or development of the lower cryptogams. 



Anatomy and Zoology. — The .Savigny prize (1500 fr. ) for the 

 assistance of young travelling zoologists, not receiving Govern- 

 ment assistance, who occupy themselves especially with the 

 invertebrates of Egypt and Syria ; the Vaillant prize (4000 fr. ) 

 for the study of the fauna of an Antarctic island of the Indian 

 Ocean ; the Thore prize (200 fr. ) for the best work on the 

 habits and anatomy of a species of European insect. 



Medicine and Surgery. — .\ Montyon prize for works useful 

 in the art of healing ; the Barbier prize (2000 fr.) for a valuable 

 discovery in surgical, medical or pharmaceutical science ; the 

 Breant prize (100,000 fr.) for the discovery of a radical cure lor 

 Asiatic cholera, or for indicating in an indisputable manner the 

 causes of Asiatic cholera in such a manner as to lead to its 

 suppression, or, failing this, the interest on the capital sum will 

 be awarded for a rigorous proof of the existence in the atmo- 

 sphere of matter capable of taking part in the production or 

 propagation of epidemic diseases, or for the discovery of a 

 radical cure for herpes or for clearing up its etiology ; the 

 Godard prize (1000 fr. ) for the best memoir on the anatomy, 

 physiology or pathology of the genito-urinary organs ; the 

 Serres prize (7500 fr. ) for the best work on general embryology, 

 applied, as far as possible, to physiology and medicine ; the 

 Bellion prize (1400 fr. ); the Mege prize for an essay on the 

 causes which have retarded or favoured the progress of medicine 

 from the oldest times to the present day ; the Lalleniand prize 

 (1800 fr. ) for work on the nervous system ; and the Baron 

 Larrey prize (1000 fr. ) for the best work presented to the 

 Academy treating of military medicine, surgery or hygiene. 



Physiology. — A Montyon prize (750 fr. ); the Pourat prize 

 (1400 fr. ) for a memoir on the comparative study of the 

 mechanism of respiration in mammals ; the Martin-Damourette 

 prize (1400 fr. ) and the Philipeaux prize (880 fr.) for work in 

 experimental physiology. 



General prizes. — The Arago medal is awarded by the Academy 

 in recognition of a work or discovery of the first rank ; the 

 Lavoisier medal is awarded without distinction of nationality to 

 chemists who have rendered eminent service to their science ; 

 a Montyon prize (unhealthy trades) for discoveries or inventions 

 diminishing the dangers of any unhealthy trade ; the Wilde 

 prize (4000 fr. ), awarded without distinction of nationality, for 

 that work or discovery which, in the opinion of the Academy, is 

 best worthy of recompense in astronomy, physics, chemistry, 

 mineralogy, geology or experimental mechanics ; the Tchihat- 

 chef prize (3000 fr. ) for exploration in the lesser-known pans of 

 Asia ; the Delalande-Guerineau prize (1000 fr. ) for services 

 rendered to French science ; the Jerome Ponti prize (3500 fr.) ; 

 the Houllevigue prize ; the Cahours prize (3000 fr. ) for the 

 encouragement of young men already known for their work, 

 especially in chemistry; the Saintour prize (3000 fr. ); the 

 Tremont prize (iioo fr.); the Gegner prize (3S00 fr.) ; the 

 prizes founded by Mme. la Marquise de Laplace and by M. 

 Felix Rivot. 



Of these prizes some are explicitly and others tacitly re- 

 stricted to Frenchmen ; among those expressly stated to be 

 offered without restriction of nationality are those bearing the 

 names of Leconte, Tchihatchef, Wilde, Lavoisier, Arago, 

 Desmazieres, Delesse, La Caze, Lalande and Pierre Guzman. 



