THE MYXOMYCETES OF PICTOU COUNTY. MOORE. 167 



the sporangium, with points of attachment to the walls of the 

 latter, or to the columella when present, or to both. The threads 

 oi* tubules frequently present expansions or thickenings, gener- 

 ally at the nodes of the net, and the expansions may take the 

 form of vesicles filled with grannies of tihe carbonate of lime. 

 In other cases the capillitium consists of simple or branched free 

 threads or elaters exhibiting, as in the Trichias, spiral markings 

 and recalling the elaters of some of the Hepatics. 



The spores are small and for the most part spherical. In 

 the different species they vary in size from 3/4 20/u, in 

 diameter, a great many falling between the limits, 7/4 1 2/u,. 

 They are provided with a firm cellulose wall which may be 

 almost smooth bnt more frequently exhibits thickenings, in the 

 form of spines, warts or reticulating bands. Those of a great 

 many species germinate readily when placed in water at a tem- 

 perature in the vicinity of 20 degs. C., and cases are recorded) 

 where the power of germination has been retained by spores 

 preserved in the herbarium for several years. The time 

 required for germination varies with tihe species, those of some 

 species germinating in a few hours after being placed in water, 

 while others require several days. My own observations on the 

 germination of spores have been wholly confined to those of 

 Fuligo orata. These I found to germinate readily in ordinary 

 tap water in from four to five hours after immersion. The 

 material used had in every instance been. in collection for several 

 months. 



The Swarmers. The swarmerg ? which are developed from 

 the germinating spores, exhibit a hyaline peripheral and granu- 

 lar inferior portion. During the flagellate stage they are 

 generally more or less pear sihaped, the flagellum projecting 

 from the narrow anterior end. Near this end, also, is found the 

 nucleus and in the broader, posterior part, one or more con- 

 tractile vacuoles. The posterior border is rendered more or less 

 irregular by pseudopodia which are continually projected and 



