Afyxoo as f res . 5 1 



eventually comes to tlie surface previous to the re- 

 productive phase, when a portion of the substance of 

 the Plasmodium becomes differentiated into a protec- 

 tive body or sporangium. The remainder of the proto- 

 plasm enclosed within the sporangium produces the 

 spores, which are frequently mixed with threads form- 

 ing the capillitium, or spore-dispersing apparatus. 



The spores on germination produce a plasmodium. 

 The late Professor de Bary, to whom we are indebted 

 for the greater part of the knowledge we possess 

 respecting the morphology and biology of the Mj/xo- 

 gastres, considered the group as' being more allied to 

 the animal than to the vegetable kingdom, and as 

 having most affinity with the simple animal organisms 

 known as the Flagellates. The supposed proof of 

 aflSnity is derived from the peculiar nature of the My ceo - 

 gastres during the vegetative phase as described 

 above, and not from the motile zoospores produced by 

 the spores on germination, as the last character is 

 possessed by many undoubted members of the vege- 

 table kingdom. As to whether the Myxogastres are 

 plants or animals cannot be discussed except at con- 

 siderable length, and does not especially concern us 

 here, where it is sufficient to remember that they 

 differ from the fungi in the total absence of hyphce 

 and in the formation of a plasmodium. 



Bactekia, oe Schtzomtcetes. 



The Bacteria were considered as fungi until 



recently, mainly on the fact of being cryptogams 



without chlorophyll. The individual cells are usually 



exceedingly minute, and when placed under favourable 



E 



9 



