29 
theories respecting spontaneous generation, a much debated 
and debatable point; but as the atmosphere seemed, ac- 
cording to the researches of Tyndall and others, to be full of 
germs, their sudden appearance in favourable situations was not 
surprising. The water in which flowers were kept was sure to 
yield some sorts ; in fact, he had an abundant supply of one kind 
from some water in which mignonette had been only three days. 
Water in bird fountains and water bottles, if not looked after, 
would be sure to contain Infusoria. 
The rest of the evening was spent in examining the different 
forms of Infusoria brought for exhibition. 
July 14th.—“‘On the Annual Excursion by Mr. T. W. Wonror.”— 
The district visited on the occasion of the 16th Annual Excursion 
was Balcombe, for Staplefield and Slaugham Place, proceeding to 
Hayward’s Heath to dinner. The objects seen and obtained, the 
places visited, and the chief incidents of the day were duly 
described. 
Mr. J. Rosertson then read a paper on “‘ Sussex Centenarians, 
with remarks on Thomas Guerin.” 
He considered one of the functions of a Natural His- 
tory Society was to verify the statements of all persons in 
the County claiming to be centenarians. He would not enter 
into the questions of periodicity or any of the great problems 
on life, about which man knew less than of many other things, 
but confine himself to the question whether men or women 
had lived over 100 years. In 1858 he had, in the public papers, 
demanded proofs of the birth of those cases alleged to be 
over 100. 
Sir G. C. Lewis had pointed out that, in the annals 
of the Peerage, where the records of births, &c., were ac- 
curately preserved, no cases of such longevity were to be found. 
Seven years ago he had found two cases, which were fully proved, 
aud which he recorded in the tenth vol. of All the Year Round, 
viz., John Banks, of Seaford, who died in 1854, and whose bap- 
tismal register he had seen in the Church of East Blatchington : 
‘1755, Feb. 9; baptised, John, son of John and Ann Banks.’ 
