FUNGI. 2S1 



swarm-spores by repeated bipartition, little groups are 

 formed by the close approach of two or more of 

 these bodies ; these groups often disperse again, but 

 eventually the components of the group coalesce and 

 lose their individuality ; this coalescence and loss of 

 individuality results in the formation of a small Plas- 

 modium, which, in some unknown way, possesses the 

 power of attracting surrounding free swarm-cells ; 

 these at once coalesce, and add to the bulk of the 

 Plasmodium. The nuclei of the component swarm- 

 cells retain their individuality in the plasmodium, the 

 latter retaining the power of motion originally pos- 

 sessed by its components, and represents the vegetative 

 phase of a Myxogaster." 



The nearest analogy to phenomena of this kind in 

 cryptogams is presented by the life-history of that 

 pretty fresh-water alga, Volvox globator. Dr. Braxton 

 Hicks observed this peculiarity in the cell at an early 

 period, before the young volvox was fully grown, 

 at the time when the future zoospores first appear, 

 enclosed in cells, the final product of segmentation. 

 These zoospore-containing cells, by contact with their 

 neighbours, are rendered many-angled, and include 

 from twenty to thirty hexagonal young zoospores, in 

 close contact, and which are of many colours. When 

 these cells are detached they become round, and have 

 a curious power of changing shape, like a Proteus, 

 protruding the wall first on one side and then on the 

 other, into which protrusions the contents run. The 

 other and more striking instance, however, was visible 

 in the zoospores themselves at an advanced age, when 

 some of them enlarge and become irregular in outline, 



