﻿94 
  

  

  the 
  Plasmodium 
  begins 
  to 
  fail, 
  the 
  network 
  of 
  veins 
  contracts, 
  and 
  the 
  

   Plasmodium 
  passes 
  into 
  the 
  resting 
  or 
  sclerotium 
  stage 
  ; 
  the 
  circula- 
  

   tion 
  gradually 
  ceases, 
  and 
  the 
  whole 
  mass 
  breaks 
  up 
  into 
  a 
  number 
  

   of 
  cells 
  or 
  cysts, 
  each 
  surrounded 
  by 
  a 
  wall. 
  In 
  its 
  dry 
  resting 
  

   state 
  it 
  can 
  experience 
  considerable 
  extremes 
  of 
  heat 
  and 
  cold 
  with- 
  

   out 
  losing 
  vitality. 
  When 
  again 
  moistened, 
  it 
  may 
  be 
  after 
  weeks, 
  

   months, 
  or 
  even 
  several 
  years, 
  the 
  cyst 
  walls 
  dissolve 
  or 
  split 
  open, 
  

   and 
  their 
  contents 
  reunite 
  to 
  form 
  once 
  more 
  an 
  active 
  plasmodium. 
  

  

  " 
  When 
  the 
  food 
  supply 
  is 
  exhausted, 
  a 
  new 
  phase 
  sets 
  in, 
  and 
  

   sporamjia 
  are 
  formed. 
  The 
  plasmodium 
  concentrates 
  at 
  a 
  number 
  

   of 
  centres 
  to 
  form 
  little 
  masses 
  which 
  may 
  become 
  stalked, 
  or 
  else 
  

   remain 
  sessile 
  ; 
  around 
  each 
  mass 
  walls 
  are 
  formed, 
  while 
  the 
  con- 
  

   tents 
  break 
  up 
  into 
  numerous 
  spores. 
  Each 
  spore 
  contains 
  a 
  single 
  

   nucleus, 
  which 
  is 
  a 
  daughter 
  nucleus, 
  formed 
  by 
  the 
  division 
  of 
  the 
  

   nuclei 
  of 
  the 
  plasmodium 
  just 
  before 
  spore 
  formation. 
  

  

  " 
  In 
  most 
  species 
  of 
  Mycetozoa, 
  before 
  the 
  spores 
  are 
  formed, 
  a 
  

   system 
  of 
  threads 
  or 
  tubules, 
  called 
  the 
  capillitin))>, 
  is 
  developed 
  

   within 
  the 
  sporangium, 
  whose 
  function 
  is 
  eventually 
  to 
  control 
  or 
  

   to 
  assist 
  in 
  the 
  dispersion 
  of 
  the 
  spores. 
  The 
  many 
  beautiful 
  

   devices 
  by 
  which 
  this 
  is 
  effected, 
  and 
  the 
  varied 
  structure 
  of 
  the 
  

   capillitium, 
  afford 
  some 
  of 
  the 
  principal 
  characters 
  by 
  which 
  

   Mycetozoa 
  are 
  classified. 
  

  

  " 
  Nearly 
  three 
  hundred 
  species 
  have 
  been 
  recognised, 
  of 
  which 
  

   one 
  hundred 
  and 
  seventy-three 
  have 
  been 
  recorded 
  as 
  British." 
  

  

  A 
  series 
  of 
  coloured 
  lantern 
  slides 
  were 
  thrown 
  on 
  the 
  screen 
  

   illustrating 
  some 
  of 
  the 
  more 
  striking 
  types 
  of 
  sporangia, 
  and 
  the 
  

   means 
  by 
  which 
  the 
  spores 
  are 
  dispersed. 
  

  

  A 
  number 
  of 
  specimens 
  of 
  Mycetozoa 
  were 
  also 
  shown, 
  several 
  

   species 
  being 
  grouped 
  together 
  in 
  one 
  tray 
  with 
  natural 
  surround- 
  

   ings, 
  to 
  suggest 
  what 
  species 
  may 
  be 
  found 
  growing 
  together 
  in 
  our 
  

   woodlands 
  and 
  gardens. 
  The 
  creeping 
  plasmodium 
  of 
  Badhamia 
  

   utricularis 
  was 
  exhibited 
  under 
  the 
  microscope, 
  and 
  displayed 
  satis- 
  

   factorily 
  the 
  rhythmic 
  streaming 
  of 
  its 
  circulation. 
  

  

  A 
  short 
  discussion 
  took 
  place. 
  

  

  -NOVEMBER 
  28th, 
  1918. 
  

  

  Annual 
  Exhibition. 
  

  

  Mr. 
  E. 
  W. 
  Nimmey, 
  F.E.S., 
  of 
  Watford, 
  and 
  Mr. 
  D. 
  C. 
  Johnstone, 
  

   of 
  Eayleigh, 
  were 
  elected 
  members 
  of 
  the 
  Society. 
  

  

  