Action of different parts of the solar disk. 83 
ever should content himself with observing at such a moment, 
might say that there had been no generation; while some days 
before, or some days after, there had been, or there would be, a 
very abundant produetion of vegetables, or of animals, or of 
both at once. 
From all the comparative tables, I select an observation made 
on November 20th, after more than seven months of putrefaction. 
Temperature at the time 10° ©. 
In the light.—The liquid had a slight odor of boiled meat.— 
On the surface many very lively Kolpodes, a great quantity of 
Vibrios, some sca.—Some Infusoria which strikingly resem- 
ble the Zodsperms of Tritons.—At the bottom, some dead Kol- 
podes, and some in the act of multiplying by division into two 
or four individuals. Many Vibrios; some Monads. 
In the dark,—The liquid had a very strong odor of mushrooms, 
—No organisms; the whole mass liquid. 
Association for the advancement of Meteorology.—This associa- 
tion, founded at the commencement of the year 1864, under the 
presidency of Le Verrier, is a great success. It meets eri- 
odically at the Observatory of Paris. It has just founded prizes 
for the encouragement of meteorological studies, and especially 
the study of the general movements of the atmosphere, All 
meteorologists are admitted to competition, without distinction 
of nationality. 
he following are some of the details of the programme: 
“ According to the generally received gp the storms of 
the coasts of France come, already formed, from the Atlantie, 
An extended series of meteorological observations made over 
this vast sea, is, then, the necessary basis of the work pro 
for the principal prize. This prize will be of 4000 franes, The 
memoirs must be delivered to the Secretary of the Society be- 
fore December 81st, 1865. 
“ A sum of 8000 francs will be divided between the authors 
of the best observations made at sea, or in places little known 
in a meteorological point of view. 
“ Finally, two lai of 500 franes each, are offered for the 
t memoirs upon the application of Meteorology to agricultural 
questions, The prizes of 300 and 500 francs may consist of in- 
ee for observation.” ai capaseitaleall 
Upon the intensity of action of different parts of the s —— 
With regard to = ort cles. hs by Secchi—according to 
which the calorific radiation of the center of the solar disk is 
— than that of the borders, nearly in the ratio of 2:1, Mr. 
Olpicelli writes that the fact was very exactly observed in 1614 
by Lue Valerio, a mathematician of Naples, author of a work, 
De centro gravitatis solidorum, and of another De quadratura para- 
bole per simplex: falsum. He was a professor in the Roman Uni- 
versity, and has been called the Archimedes of hisage. 
