ii6 Natural History Bulletin. 



I have also from Dr. Morgan a specimen which he designates 

 Lindbladia efusa, Ehr., which certainly corresponds much 

 better to descriptions given in the various texts at my dis- 

 posal, especially in that it forms an undoubted sethalium, in 

 which the individual sporangia lose their identity. Neverthe- 

 less the spores in the two cases are identical as to surface, and 

 of the same size; the peridia of the same general texture, 

 color (en masse), etc. 



The Plasmodium of which I here collected the fruit was 

 widely effused, covering with a rather tough papyraceous 

 sheet (the hypothallus) the side of a log for many inches (six 

 by twenty-three). It was quite mature when first discovered 

 and has not re-appeared, so that its earhest history remains 

 unknown. 



This is one of the numerous instances which go to show 

 that the Slime-moulds, or even ordinary fungi for that matter, 

 are by no means annuals. Some are; but most appear in a 

 given locality, all things favoring, only at long intervals which 

 cover doubtless several or man}- years. 



III. CLATHROPTYCHIACE^. 



Sporangia united to form asthalia; the walls thickened in 

 certain places, at maturity vanishing except where thickened. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



Walls of the mature sporangia perforate on every side, . . Enteridium. 

 Mature sporangia prismatic, only the apex permanent; the vertical 



angles like descending threads, Clathroptyciiium. 



ENTERIDIUM, Ehrenberg: 



Sporangia in the mature ^thalium inextricably confused, 

 and individually indistinguishable, covered by a thin cortex. 

 The remains of the peridia after the escape of the spores 

 resembling a net. 



