J. SAT7NDEUS NOTES ON TUE MYCETOZOA. 69 



shady dell near "Welwjrn. There were three patches of it on a 

 decayed root and the adjoining soil. One portion had mature 

 sporangia, the second was forming them, and the third consisted of 

 yellow Plasmodium, still in its creeping stage, but which attained 

 maturity in a day or two. The gathering exhibited many forms of 

 sporangia, ranging from those with a fully-developed stalk to 

 others which consisted of a sessile plasmodiocai-p. 



One of the handsomest and also one of the most frequent of the 

 Mycetozoa is Arcyria punicea. The plasmodium stage is passed in 

 rotten wood, and so far as our experience extends it is only 

 observable when rising to form sporangia. When immature these 

 are milky white, and in ripening they become a rich crimson. In 

 the progressive stages the upper part of the sporangium wall is 

 thrown oii, the capillitium extends to several times its former size, 

 and the spores disperse. Eventually all the contents of the peridia 

 may be blown away, leaving the cup-shaped base of its wall sup- 

 ported by its short stalk. 



The Trichias usually conceal themselves till near the fruiting 

 time, and are therefore but rarely seen in the creeping stage. The 

 only occasion on which we have observed the plasmodium of this 

 genus was once in Luton Hoo Park. A number of white veins were 

 noticed creeping among the interstices of some bark, over a surface 

 of several square inches, but even in this instance it was near 

 maturity, as some portion of the mass was already forming its 

 sporangia. The white veins and immature peridia showing so 

 well on the dark background of bark, a photograph of the group 

 was taken. The species proved to be Trichia van'a, which agrees 

 with most of this genus in that it has white plasmodium, a notable 

 exception being T. fallax, in which it may be either white or red. 

 Triclda Jaclcii when fruiting generally leaves a quantity of slimy 

 refuse, which the beginner might easily mistake for plasmodium. 

 The sporangia appear as a mass of closely-compacted small white 

 beads, which, on maturing, assume a rusty brown colour. Another 

 species with a gregarious habit is Trichia scabra, which can readily 

 be distinguished from the preceding by the slight metallic lustre of 

 the walls of the sporangia. Trichia affinis is somewhat uncommon, 

 and may be recognized in the field by its bright yellow hue. 



Before leaving this interesting group, it will be well to observe 

 that in maturing the sporangia great care should be taken not to 

 dry them too quickly, as interesting gatherings may be spoilt in 

 this way. 



The incident that has had the most interest for those to whom it 

 befel — my son and myself — was the discovery of Crilraria violacea. 

 "We had one day travelled a long distance over parts of Beds and 

 Herts, and then traversed an extensive wood on I\anghoe Hills, 

 near the borders of Bucks. When nearing the edge of the wood, 

 which had proved almost barren for our special objects of search, we 

 noticed some very old logs of beech which looked promising. We 

 separated, each intent on the portion under examination. Presently 

 my juvenile companion called my attention to a group of immature 



