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 manuscripts to the 

 Authors; a copy, however, being deposited in the Archives of the Society, unless 

 the Paper shall be published in the Transactions. 



6. In awarding the Prize, the Council will also take into consideration any 

 scientific papers presented to the Society during the Sessions 1868-69 and 

 1869-70, whether they may have been given in with a view to the Prize or not. 



III. 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. The Neill Prize, consisting of a Gold Medal and a sum of Money, will 

 be awarded at the commencement of the Session 1871-72. 



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 May 1871, — 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. 



