Claire Deville, and will be confined to researches and analyses in mineral chemistry.

The following award of prizes was made during the past year by the French Academy:-The great Cuvierian Prize, which is only given to works of the first merit, was presented to M. Müller, for his Researches into the Structure and Development of Echinodermes, one of those works "which have contributed most to the philosophy of the science, to organogeny, zoology, and general physiology, since the death of Cuvier." This is the second time the Cuvierian Prize has been given, it having been awarded for the first time to Agassiz, for his work on Fossil Fishes. A prize of 2,000 francs was awarded to M. Berthelot, for his chemical researches on the fatty bodies. Medals were also decreed to all the astronomers who, during the year 1854, discovered planets-to MM. Luther, Marth, Hind, Ferguson, Goldschmidt, and Charcornac. Three awards were given for improvements in the processes used in Arts that are injurious to health-one for the substitution of potato starch for wood charcoal in preparing molds of clay for receiving copper, bronze, and melted cast-iron, proposed by a poor armorer, M. Rouy: a plan now generally adopted in the founderies of France, because it is not so hurtful to the workmen, although starch is dearer than charcoal powder. Another award was made to M. Mabru for a process for preserving milk in its natural state, which is simply this tin canisters, having a small tubular opening, are filled full, and then kept for some time in a water-bath, to drive out all air, and finally hermetically sealed.

The following scientific researches are now in progress under the auspices and at the expense of the Royal (English) Society:-Researches on earthquake waves, by Robert Mallet; researches on the excretion of men and animals, by Dr. Marcet; experiments on the strength of materials, by Professor Hodgkinson; experimental researches on heat and magnetism, by Dr. Tyndall; experimental researches on the heat developed by the oxydation of certain metals, by Dr. Woods; experimental researches on fluids in motion, and on the thermal effects experienced by fluids in passing through small apertures, illustrating the typical forms of Foramenifera, by Dr. Carpenter; chemical researches on the solid oils and waxes of the vegetable kingdom, by Nevil Maskelyn, Esq.; experimental researches on the physiology of the blood, by Dr. Davy; experiments on the thermal effects of electric currents in unequally heated conductors, by Professor William Thompson.

The Imperial Geological Institution at Vienna has published a "Geologische Uebersicht der Oesterreichischen Monarchie," in which more than 2,000 localities, where mining establishments in Austria exist, have been named, and described.

The Palæontographical Society of London, which distributes among its subscribers a larger quantity of matter than any other publishing society, has issued a report, in which it announces an increase in its number of members to 762, and purposes to deliver the following works in the ensuing spring for the subscriptions of the last year: "The Fossil Reptilia of Great Britain," Part VI., by Professor Owen, containing 10 plates; "Fossil Shells of the Chalk Formation," Part III., by Mr. Sharpe, containing 10 plates; "The Mollusca of the Crag," Part IV., by Mr. S. Wood, containing 11 plates, and completing that work; "The Fossil Crustacea of the London Clay," by Professor Bell, containing about 10 plates; "The Entomostraca of the Tertiary Formations," by Mr. Rupert Jones, containing 6 plates; "The Radiaria of the Oolitic Formations," by Dr. Wright, Part I., containing 10 plates; "The Eocene Mollusca," by Mr. F. Edwards, Part IV., containing 10 plates.

Notwithstanding the terrible war in which Russia is at present engaged, matters of scientific interest are by no means neglected. Six large and thoroughly equipped geographical expeditions have left St. Petersburg during the past season. A chronometric expedition has also been made for determining the longitude between Moscow and Astracan; and the great measurement of the meridian arc which has been carried from Finland southward, is still going on at the latitude of 45°. The corresponding geodetic observations in Southern Russia are being vigorously prosecuted under the superintendence of General Wroutchekow.

A valuable donation to the Public Library of Boston has recently been made by the Superintendent of the London Patent Office, viz.: a complete set of all the publications relative to patents made by the commissioners of that office. This donation amounts to nearly two hundred volumes, imperial octavo; each volume of specifications being accompanied by a sheet imperial volume of lithographic illustrations.

The French Geographical Society have recently awarded a gold medal to each of the following English navigators and explorers: To Captain M'Clure, R. N., for his discovery of the North-west Passage; to Captain Inglefield, R. N., for his discoveries in the Arctic regions; and to Mr. Francis Galton, for his explorations in the Namaqua, Damara, and Ovampo countries, northward of the Orange River in South-west Africa.

The English Parliament have also voted a reward of 10,000 pounds to Captain M'Clure, his officers, and crew, for the discovery of the North-west Passage. Of this sum, 5,000 pounds is given to Captain M'Clure, who has also received the honor of knighthood.

Through the munificence of Mr. James Brown, the late eminent

Boston publisher, the Natural History Society of that city have received a valuable donation of rare and costly works relating to natural history, of the value of $2,000.

Nathan Jackson, Esq., of New York city, has presented $3,500 to the Lyceum of Natural History of Williams College, to aid in the erection of a building for scientific purposes.

According to a document read at a recent meeting of the Connecticut Historical Society, by Hon. Henry Barnard, the whole amount of land appropriated by the General Government for educational purposes, to the 1st of January, 1854, was 52,970,231 acres; which, at the minimum price of such lands when first brought into market, represented the munificent sum of $56,000,000—but which at this time could not be worth less than $200,000,000. The amount of the donations and subscriptions by individuals far exceeds all that has been given by State Legislatures. Mr. Barnard read from a table exhibiting the donations and bequests made by citizens of Boston within the last half century, amounting to upward of $4,000,000.

Two German travelers, who have recently returned from an extensive tour in America, Drs. Wagner and Karl Scherzer, are preparing for publication a work on the results of their joint labors-two volumes of which (those referring to Central America) are already in the press. Messrs. Wagner and Scherzer have wandered through North America, from the estuary of the St. Lawrence to that of the Mississippi-through the five republics of Central America, from Costa Rica to the northern frontier of Guatemala-and through the West India Islands of Jamaica, Hayti, and Cuba. The total length of their tour amounts to 30,000 miles, which they have made in not more than three years. Besides very considerable geological and botanical collections, the travelers have also brought together some thousands of vertebrate animals, mostly birds and reptiles, and about 50,000 specimens of invertebrate ones, the fourth part of which is said to consist of quite new species.

A new periodical has been recently started in London, called "The Quarterly Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics," and devoted especially to this particular department of science. The title-page bears the names of J. J. Silvester, M. A., F. R. S., late Professor in University College, London, N. M. Ferrers, M. A., Professor Stokes, of Cambridge, F. R. S., A. Cayley, M. A., F. R. S., and M. Hermite, corresponding editor in Paris, an editorial staff affording sufficient guaranty for the manner in which the work will be conducted.

During the past year, Prof. Agassiz has announced the publication of a great work, entitled "Contributions to the Natural History of America,” to be embraced in ten quarto volumes of about 300 pages, illustrated by twenty plates. The work will be the result of extended

researches during many years past, and will be the most complete proof of the rare scientific knowledge and abilities of its author which has yet been given to the public. It will contain the results of his embryological investigations, embracing about sixty monographs from all classes of animals, especially those characteristic of America; also descriptions of a great number of new species and genera, accompanied with accurate figures and anatomical details.

One of the most curious scientific books published during the past year has been a history of the Tineina, a species of microscopic moths, by Mr. H. T. Stainton, of England, who has devoted years to the study of their habit and characteristics. These moths are numerous in species, and extremely elegant in form and coloring, yet so minute in size, that entomologists have scarcely known until lately of their existence. The publication in question is to be executed on a scale of completeness and extended detail not hitherto reached by naturalists on any subject. The first volume published, of eight beautifully executed plates, with 350 pages of letter-press, contains the descriptions of only twenty-four species, and it will require forty such volumes to complete the work. The principal novelty of this work, however, consists in its being printed in parallel columns in four languagesEnglish, French, German, and Latin. With these polyglot honors, the little night-flyers are raised to an importance surpassing far the lot of any other insects.

One of the most beautiful monographs ever issued in the United States, has been published during the past year by Isaac Lea, Esq., of Philadelphia, on the Fossil Foot-prints discovered by Mr. L. in the lowest beds of the Coal Formation, near Pottsville, Pa. The work is a large folio, and the plates represent the foot-prints of the oldest reptilian, known to paleontologists, of their natural size. Some attempts have been made to question the accuracy of the reference of these tracks to reptilian animals, and an opinion has been given by Prof. Agassiz that they are caused by fishes. Prof. J. Wyman, in a recent communication to the Boston Society of Natural History on this subject, stated that there is no known fish, recent or fossil, the pectoral or ventral fins of which could produce a series of tracks like those discovered in the coal strata of Pennsylvania by Mr. Lea. Although among Lophioid fishes the pectoral fins are used for locomotion on the shores, yet they in every instance conform to the fish typeare fins and not feet. An analogous condition of things is found among cetacean and marine saurians, where the limbs serve the purposes of paddles, and may be compared to fins, yet morphologically they can be referred only to the mammalian or reptilian types.

A new map of the Arctic Regions has been published by the British Admiralty, to which the names affixed to various localities by the

American expedition sent out by Henry Grinnell, Esq., have been adopted; and in particular, Grinnell's Land, discovered by said expedition, is entered conspicuously on the map, it having been on a previous map of the Admiralty called Prince Albert's Land. This act of justice to the exertions of our countrymen, has been for some time strongly urged by the Rev. Dr. Scoresby and other illustrious Arctic navigators.

The arrangements for securing a series of marine observations, according to the plans proposed and practically carried out by Lieut. Maury, have been completed by the British Government, and liberal appropriations granted by Parliament. A certain number of selected ships of the mercantile marine, and all those of her majesty employed in long or distant voyages, are, or soon will be, engaged in making exact observations with instruments supplied under the authority of the Board of Trade (duly tested and compared), and in registering the apparent results according to forms settled at the Brussels Conference of 1853, slightly modified, so as to suit present convenience. The estimates sanctioned by Parliament are sufficient to provide sixty merchant-ships and forty men-of-war with the necessary meteorological instruments (namely, barometers, thermometers, and hydrometers), in addition to the nautical instruments usual at sea; to pay office expenses and salaries (including allowances to agents at outports); and to provide the necessary registers. A captain in the navy is in charge of the office. Four subordinates are to assist him, and there are agents appointed at the principal ports to communicate personally with the owners, captains, and officers of ships. Liberally supplied by the United States Government, Maury's Sailing Directions and Charts are distributed gratis among those who undertake to record observations satisfactorily, and send them to the Board of Trade. Marks, expressive of distinction, are to be annexed to the names of approved contributors to meteorology in the Mercantile Navy List, and other encouragements are contemplated. Every exertion will be made at the office, not only to discuss and tabulate valuable observations, but to digest and render available as soon as possible such information as may tend immediately to the improvement of navigation.

A new society, called the “ African Exploration Society," has been recently formed in England, with the object of exploring and evangelizing Central Africa from a station at Tunis. It proposes to seek its objects chiefly by means of a native African agency, specially trained for the purpose in an African school at Tunis, conducted by medical, scientific, and religious tutors from the United Kingdom. Tunis is well chosen as a station, because it is ready of access to the civilized world, and it is not in the same quarter from which other