140 J. SArXDKES — TfOTES ON THE MTCETOZOA. 



a suitable fungus was placed, and the intermediate space was filled 

 with fragments of decayed wood. The whole was then immersed 

 in water, or rather water was poured over it until the contents of 

 the dish were covered. It was noticed that after two or three days 

 the Plasmodium had imbibed sufficient moisture to enable it to 

 become partly detached from its position. In about a week it 

 threw out a vein-like process, which traversed the intervening 

 space over the fragments of wood, and reached the fungus on the 

 o]iposite side of the vessel. In a few more days the whole creature 

 had left its original position and had transferred itself to the fresh 

 food which lay within its vicinity, although several inches distant. 

 By what occult power it could direct its course in the desired 

 direction, and that after weeks of apparent suspension of anima- 

 tion, is beyond my comprehension. 



In addition to movements of the whole mass, or certain portions 

 of it. in search of sustenance, which changes of position may be 

 noted by the naked eye, or better still with a pocket-lens, there is 

 also a circulation of the protoplasmic contents. It can, however, 

 scarcely be called circulation in the ordinary sense of the term, as 

 the course is not always in one direction. There is an ebb and 

 flow in curious rythmic cadence. Two or three branching veins 

 will have the central portion hiuTying forwards, it may be towards 

 the right of the observer, then suddenly they may be arrested in 

 tlieir course, and return towards the direction from which they 

 came. As, however, this description can only apply to the small 

 portion visible at one time in the field of a microscope, it would 

 be presumptuous to imply that this would adequately describe 

 the movements of the whole mass. 



A brief description of the appearance of the Mycetozoa in the 

 fruiting stage, will be helpful to those who wish to observe them 

 in the field. In the immature condition they are often of a 

 different colour from that of the mature. Some of them ( Coma- 

 trichia) present the appearance of minute white beads scattered 

 over the surface of decayed wood or bark. In this state they show 

 in striking contrast to the haii'-like black stalks on which they 

 stand. In a day or two the heads change to a dusky brown. 

 Others again appear as minute black beads, glistening as though 

 covered with varnish. A slate-coloured genus ( Crihraria), which 

 eventually assumes a yellowish hue, may occasionally be found 

 on fallen pine-logs. In the early spring a generally- distributed 

 genus {Reticularia of a lovely pink, with sessile heads which are 

 about the size of peas, may be observed on decayed tree-stumps, 

 etc. These are not uncommon in Epping Forest and Wanstead 

 Park. Less frequent than this is a genus [Tubulina) of a scarlet 

 hue, which, when mature, shows as a small group of closely com- 

 pacted cylindrical dark brown heads. This may be sought on fallen 

 willow trunks, near to brooks, in moist meadows. A much more 

 common species ( Trickia Jackii) presents the appearance of a patch 

 of sessile white heads, which, when ripe, become of a bright yellow 

 colour. One of the most attractive {Trichia fallax), appears as 



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