INTRODUCTION. 111. 



classification is the capillitium, or the capillitium and columella, 

 and this should be borne in mind in any attempt which is made 

 to master the details of the scheme. 



The negative features of the method are important to remember 

 in the transition from one system to another. The form, of the 

 sporangium must not be relied upon to the fullest extent of 

 the old system ; and, especially in some genera, the presence or 

 absence of a stem is to be regarded as of little moment. Above 

 all, colour, as exhibited in sporangium or stern, must be held 

 as wholly untrustworthy, and this extends equally to the capil- 

 litium and spores in the Lamprosporce . 



Some disappointment will probably be felt at seeing so many 

 old friends, formerly designated by distinct names, and each sup- 

 posed to possess an individuality of its own, all thrown together 

 in such species as Didymium farinaceum and Trichia fragilis. 

 And again, on the other hand, that such minute differences, 

 which require both faith and practice to appreciate, should separate 

 Trichia affinis from Trichia chrysosperma. These applications of 

 the system, however, do not vitiate the system itself, which 

 undoubtedly must be accepted as a great and thorough reform 

 of the classification of the Myxomycetes. 



It is unnecessary to attempt any controversion of the propo- 

 sition once made, but soon ignored, that these organisms are 

 more intimately related to animals than plants. Although the 

 proposed name of Mycetozoa is still retained by Rostafinski, it is 

 entirely divested of any insinuation in the direction of Infusoria, 

 or Rhizopoda. It is just because of the misinterpretation to which 

 Mycetozoa is liable that the preference has been given to 

 Myxomycetes as the title of this work. 



Finally, as to the present " contribution," I may not have 

 succeeded in producing a very elegant, but at least I believe a 



