A. E. HILTON ON THE STUDY OF THE MYCETOZOA. 425 



instead of three, to make a separate kingdom for their accommo- 

 dation. The time for that, however, is not yet. 



With this introduction I now address, more particularly, those 

 of our members, especially new ones, who are undecided as to what 

 line of microscopical research to follow. Those who are already 

 specialising in other directions, with excellent results, will, 1 am 

 sure, forgive me if I seem, for the time being, to advocate one line 

 -of investigation at the expense of others. All will admit that 

 concentration is essential to achievement ; and in a Club like this, 

 whatever path we choose for ourselves, we have the great advan- 

 tage of side-glimpses of the various lines of research followed by 

 other members. We can take a lively interest in their depart- 

 ments, while specialising in our own way. 



To you, then, who are undecided, let me say, first, that the 

 Mycetozoa present a subject for study more easily grasped than 

 many other subjects of inquiry. For example, if you turn to 

 botany, the way is bestrewn with so bewildering a variety 

 of facts, so vast a bibliography, and so formidable a terminology, 

 that, unless you restrict yourself to a very narrow section, you are 

 likely to be lost in its mazes ; while entomology presents more 

 embarrassing features still. Of insects there are already about 

 500,000 species on the lists, several thousand new species are 

 being described annually, and a probable estimate of the total 

 number of existing species is said to be 10,000,000 ! Compared 

 with these the study of the Mycetozoa, with their less than 50 

 genera, and 300 species, is a simple, waistcoat-pocket study, 

 compact and convenient. To business men, who want their 

 hobby to be recreation, not a toil, this is a consideration. 



Next as to enjoyment. Some do not mind handling spiders, 

 beetles, worms, woodlice, and such-like things ; but tastes differ. 

 Charles Kingsley, for instance, lover of nature as he was, had an 

 aversion for spiders which he could never succeed in conquering. 

 One has onlv, however, to become familiar with the forms and 

 colours of the sporangia of the Mycetozoa, to appreciate the grace 

 and charm of these tiny but beautiful objects. 



Now as to procedure. Assuming that you pos>e» a microscope, 

 the outlay, at starting, need only be small. If convenient, you 

 should spend an hour in the Botany Department of the British 

 Museum of Natural History at South Kensington, examining the 

 collection presented by Mr. Arthur Lister. Sou will then know 

 better what to look for when you hunt for specimens. In any 

 ■sase, you should obtain from the museum a copy of the guide to 



