of the Royal Society contain several specimens of able Biographies of the kind 

 here referred to. The Council are anxious to see a continuation of the series. 



5. The Council impose no restriction as to the length of the Essays, which 

 may be, at the discretion of the Council, read at the Ordinary Meetings of the 

 Society. They wish also to leave the property and free disposal of the manu- 

 scripts to the Authors ; a copy, however, being deposited in the archives of the 

 Society, unless the Paper shall be published in the Transactions. 



NEILL PRIZE. 



The Council of the Royal Society of Edinburgh having received the bequest of 

 the late Dr Patrick Neill of the sum of £500, for the purpose of " the interest 

 thereof being applied in furnishing a Medal or other reward every second or third 

 year to any distinguished Scottish Naturalist, according as such Medal or reward 

 shall be voted by the Council of the said Society," hereby intimate, 



1. That the First Neill Prize, consisting of a Gold Medal and a sum of 

 Money, will be awarded before the close of the Session 1858-9. 



2. The Prize will be given for a Paper of distinguished merit, on a subject of 

 Natural History, by a Scottish Naturalist, which shall have been presented to 

 the Society during the three years preceding the 1st February 1859, — or failing 

 presentation of a Paper sufficiently meritorious, it will be awarded for a work 

 or publication by some distinguished Scottish Naturalist, on some branch of 

 Natural History, bearing date within five years of the time of award. 



