Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



547 



MYXOMYCETES. 



With the exception of a few forms like Fuligo (often found on oak stumps 

 and on oak bark in tan yards), the Myxomycetes are small, and are usually over- 

 looked by collectors. A careful examination of rotting logs in moist woods will 

 usually reveal an abundance of these delicate and beautiful organisms. They 



should be pinned to the bottom of a box 

 for safe carrying. For herbarium speci- 

 mens they are simply allowed to dry, and 

 are then fastened with glue or paste to the 

 bottom of a small box. 



Plasmodia and young sporangia may be 

 fixed in chromo-acetic acid or Flemming's 

 fluid. Sections are easily cut in paraffin, 

 and should not be more than 5yu in thick- 

 ness, and should be thinner if possible. 

 Acid fuchsin and iodine green is a good 

 stain. Delafield's haematoxylin used alone 

 or with a little orange G. is also to be 

 recommended. Excellent methods for living cultures were given in the January 

 and February (1898) numbers of the Journal. 



Fig. 25. Myxomycetes. 



Growing on rotten wood. A. Hemitrichia 

 rubiformis. X 20. B. Stemonitis ferru- 

 ginea. Natural size. C. Trichia varia. 



PHYCOMYCETES. 



Miccor. — This familiar mould appears with great regularity on bread. The 

 following is a sure and rapid method 

 for obtaining Mucor : Place a glass 

 tumbler in a plate of water, put a slice 

 of bread on the tumbler, and cover 

 with a glass jar. 



To obtain such a series as is shown 

 in A-D of the figure, the material 

 should be studied before the sporangia 

 begin to turn black. The phase in the 

 life history indicated in F-H is rarely 

 seen. The writer would be glad to 

 hear from any who have met this phase, 

 especially if the information could be 

 accompanied by a few dry zygospores. 



Corrosive sublimate (4 per cent.) 

 in 50 per cent, alcohol, used hot, may 

 be recommended as a fixing agent. 

 Haemalum, or Delafield's haematoxylin, 

 are good for glycerine preparations. 

 A very satisfactory study may be made from the living material. 



Cystopus. — This fungus is quite common on Cruciferae, where the white 

 " blisters " or " white rust " form quite conspicuous patches. 



Fig. 26. Mucor stolonifer. V 255. 



A-D. Successive stages in the development of the 

 sporangium. Drawn from living material. E. 

 Columella with a few spores adhering. F-H. Stages 

 in the formation of the zygospore. From a prepara- 

 tion fixed in corrosive sublimate, stained in Dela- 

 field's haematoxylin, and mounted in glycerine. 



