212 : 
concerted action of numerous individuals.”’ During the nutritive stage, 
the rods lie separate. Through some contagious impulse they concentrate: 
toward central points, piling up on one another, and gradually change into 
spores. 
As is cautiously suggested, ‘‘the resemblance (to the Acrasiew) might 
be purely accidental,’’ yet the general character of the corresponding per- 
iods is practically identical, except for cell differences of the organisms: 
concerned. 
If we assume that the pseudoplasmodium of the Myzxrobacteriacee indi- 
cates a genetic connection with that of the Acrasiew, then the Mycetozoa 
have affinities with higher plants through the Bucteria, which are evi- 
dently derived forms of the fission-algz. At any rate, as suggested by 
Thaxter, ‘caution is necessary in accepting the views of those who would 
unceremoniously relegate the Mycetozoa to the domain of pure zodlogy.” 
MoRPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF THE SCALES OF CUSCUTA. 
By Axtipa M. CUNNINGHAM. 
The work undertaken and the line of thought pursued throughout has 
been that of making a revision of the family Cuscutacee of North America. 
This work was commenced at the beginning of the present university year 
and has been pursued since that time with the assistance of Dr. Stanley 
‘Coulter of Purdue University. The only complete work on this family 
which has been given to the public is that of Dr. Engelmann, published in 
1859. Since that time a few new species have been added to those named 
in his work, and some of these have been classified by Dr. Engelmann 
himself. Like all works of any magnitude, the original is imperfect and 
incomplete. 
This family is one presenting much difficulty, because there are so few 
characters which can be used in determination and many of the flowers 
are so minute as to necessitate the constant use of the microscope in ex- 
amination. For this reason much classification has been done in the past 
by mere comparison of the unnamed specimens with the named ones. 
After a study of these plants we are convinced that such a classification 
is mislending and extremely inaccurate. Again, the plants have such a 
range of variation, yet merge into each other so closely in same of their 
