34 



The Afycetozoa, and 



mental character in their classification, and in like manner 

 we shall find in the myxies that the colour of the spores 

 has been found a character of real value. 



What is the meaning, some one may ask, of the value 

 of a character for classificatory purposes ? It means that 

 the presence of that character affords a safe line of cleavage ; 



1 



FIG-. 5. Cribraria aurantiaca x about sixty diameters. 



that those plants or animals which are on one side of the 

 line will be found to agree in other characters will have 

 a likeness in many points of that kind which creates what 

 we call in human beings a family likeness ; whilst those 

 organisms which stand on the other side of the line will 

 be found dissimilar from the first family group. For 

 instance, if we gather the common white dead nettle 



