102 Natural History Bulletin. 



the Plasmodium is hardly entitled to be called a cellular organ- 

 ism; its only claim, the possession in certain cases of numerous 

 nuclei as stated above. In passing now into the condition of 

 rest, the whole protoplasmic mass separates simultaneously 

 into numerous definite polyhedral or parenchymatous cells, 

 each with a well developed cellulose wall. When the condi- 

 tions essential to activity are restored, the walls disappear, the 

 cellulose is resorbed, and the plasmodium resumes its usual 

 habit and structure. 



The plasmodial phase of the Slime-mould, like the hyphal 

 phase of the fungus, may continue a long time; for months, 

 possibly for years. The reason for making the latter state- 

 ment will presently appear. But however long or short the 

 plasmodial phase continue, the time of fruit, the reproductive 

 phase at length arrives. When this time comes, induced 

 partly by a certain maturity in the organism itself, partly no 

 doubt by the trend of external conditions, the plasmodium no 

 longer as before evades the light, but pushes to the surface, 

 and appears usually in some elevated or exposed position, the 

 upper side of the log, the top of the stump, the upper surface 

 of its habitat whatever that may be ; or even leaves its nutrient 

 base entirely and finds lodging on some neighboring object. 

 In such emergency the stems and leaves of flowering plants 

 are often made to serve, and even fruits and flowers afford 

 convenient resting places. The object now to be attained is 

 not the formation of fruit alone, but likewise its speedy des- 

 sication and the prompt dispersal of the perfected spores. 

 Nothing can be more interesting than to watch the Slime- 

 mould as its plasmodium accomplishes this its last migration. 

 If hitherto its habitat has been the soft interior of a rotten log, 

 it now begins to ooze out in all directions, to well up through 

 the crevices of the bark as if pushed by some energy acting 

 in the rear, to stream down upon the ground, to flow in 

 hundred tiny streams over all the region round about, to climb 

 all stems, ascend all branches, even leaves and flow^ers to the 

 height of many inches, all to pass suddenly as if by magic 



