J. SATTNDEES NOTES ON THE MTCETOZOA. 143 



closely-alliccl species. These threads may be simple or branched ; 

 combined into a network, or have numerons free ends ; and they 

 may be united to the walls or to the central colnmella. Their 

 ornamentation is often very beantifnl and of most intricate designs. 

 These markings may consist of spirals, spines, or cogs, and are due 

 to external thickenings of the walls. In this respect they differ 

 from the elaters of Jungermannia), which have the spirals coiled up 

 in the interior of the cells. 



Some few species show affinities with Mosses in the possession 

 of an operculum ; others approach the Fungi, through the Lyco- 

 perdons, in the presence of a capillitium, and the whole group 

 exhibits a relationship with the animal world, by the motile 

 amoebiform cells which precede the formation of the plasmodium. 



The student of the Mycetozoa would find a peculiar fascination 

 in the subject as the knowledge of it increases, and, as it is com- 

 paratively "An Open Pield," he would find plenty of opportunity 

 for original research. Xor need his observations be limited to any 

 one period of the year, as they are to be found at almost all seasons ; 

 extremes of heat and cold being most detrimental to their develop- 

 ment. The Plasmodium has, however, the power of resisting frost. 

 In December, 1892, the writer collected a specimen frozen hard, 

 attached to a fungus. Upon moistening it and keeping it in a 

 warm room, it soon revived and commenced to creep about. In a 

 few days it formed a group of capsules. It was obtained on the 

 borders of Hertfordshire, in a moist wood on a hill-top with an 

 extensive prospect, many parts of which had been successfully 

 investigated for these interesting creatures. The pursuit of this 

 subject leads the student into some of Nature's quietest haunts, 

 and furnishes him with material for wide generalization, as well as 

 advanced microscopic investigation. 



For the benefit of those who wish to study the Mycetozoa 

 reference is made to the following literature on the subject: — 



" Myxomycetes of Great Britain," by Dr. M. C. Cooke. 1877. 



"Mycetozoa," in ' Midland Naturalist,' 1882, 1887, 1888. 



"Notes on Mycetozoa," by Mr. A. Lister, in ' Journ. Bot.,' 

 Sept. 1891. 



"An Open Field,," by Mr. A. Lister, in 'Nature Notes,' Jan. 

 1892. 



"Monograph of the Myxogastres," by Mr. G. Massee. 1892. 



The Mycetozoa of Herts and Beds. 



The following list is a compilation of the records of several 

 esteemed correspondents, as well as those of myself and my son 

 Edgar. All the twenty- seven forms enumerated for Heath, on 

 the borders of Beds, were collected by Miss L. Bassett and Miss G. 

 Lister, in the early part of 1892. The species marked C. C. were 

 collected by Mr. C. Crouch ; those initialed A. E. G. and H. E. S. 

 by Mr. A. E. Gibbs, F.L.S., and Mr. H. E. Seebohm, respectively. 

 Two forms fi-om Bricket Wood, \iz., Trichia scabra and T. abrupta, 



