270 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. ["ru^nal.MaTusIa' 



stated " that Mr. Dancer's calculation of the number of spores in the 

 air was noticed, but a source of error was pointed out in the readiness 

 with which organisms are developed in suitable fluids even in the 

 course of a few hours," in reply I have to state that this very obvious 

 source of multiplication did not escape attention, which a few extracts 

 from the printed paj^er in the Proceedings of March 31st, 1868, will 

 suffice to show. It is stated that " during the first observations, few 

 living organisms were noticed, but as it afterwards proved, the germs 

 of plant and animal life (probably in a dormant condition) were 

 present." Again, at the bottom of the same page — " When the bottle 

 had remained for 36 hours in a room at a temperature of 60° the 

 quantity of fungi had visibly increased, and the delicate mycelial 

 thread-like roots had completely entangled the fibrous objects con- 

 tained in the bottle and formed them into a mass." I may add that 

 the contents of the bottle were very frequently subjected to critical 

 examination for any change in their appearance from the time I received 

 it from Dr. R. A. Smith until all appearance of vitality had ceased. 

 The amount of solid matter suspended in the atmosphere is exceedingly 

 variable — after continued rain the air is comparatively free, whereas 

 in very dry weather with high wind, in localities where dust and 

 decomposing matter are abundant, it will be found at a considerable 

 altitude. 



Brighton and Sussex Natural History Society.* 



March 10th. The President, Mr. T. Hennah, in the chair.— The 

 meeting was special, to receive a report of the Committee on the 

 subject of forming a Microscopical Section, a summary of which is 

 api^ended. It having been suggested that the usefulness of the Society 

 would be much extended if increased facilities could be afforded to its 

 members for microscopical study, the Committee recommended that, 

 as microscopical examination and the use of the microscope were 

 almost indispensable to the pursuit of knowledge in natural history, 

 it appeared necessary to form a section of the Society, to be called the 

 " Microscopical Section," which should provide for the study of sub- 

 jects connected with the use of the microscope, and for the more 

 frequent intercourse of such members as were interested in microsco- 

 pical study ; that these objects could be attained by monthly meetings 

 of the Section, when papers on strictly microscoijical subjects could 

 be read, such reading to be restricted to twenty minutes, so that time 

 might be afforded for the examination of objects and for the compari- 

 son of observations ; by the formation of a cabinet, to which members 

 be invited to contribute slides, particularly of such objects as illustrate 

 the natural history of Sussex — members to have specimens from the 

 cabinet for home examination, under certain restrictions; and by 

 the encouraging the exchange of slides among the members. The 

 Section to consist of all members of the Society who signify their wish 

 to the Secretaries to join the Section. The government to be under 

 the present officers of the Society until the annual meeting, when the 



* Report supplied by Mr. T. Wonfor. 



