492 LIFE-HISTORIES 



178. The fission fungi (Class Schizomycetes). Fungi, 

 hroadhj defined, are thaUus-plants without chlorophyll. In 

 their structure and life-histories they present often note- 

 worthy parallels to what we have already seen in typical 

 algae. Thus, closely similar to the Cyanophyceai are the 

 Fission Fungi, otherwise known as Bacteria. A typical 



C ^ A 







"111 // If t 



Fig. 322. — Hay bacillus (Bacillus subtilis, Rod-germ Family, Bacteriacece). 

 A, rod-like plants embedded in the film-like gelatinous mass which they 

 produce, 6?°. B, plants swimming freely by means of slender lash-like 

 projections, ^VS- C, plants in the thread condition forming resting 

 spores, a?''. (Strasburger.)— These plants cause putrefaction in various 

 liquids such as water in which hay has been soaked. 



example is the "hay bacillus" (Fig. .322) so-called because 

 it thrives in an infusion of hay. About twenty-four hours 

 after such an infusion is made, the liquid gives off an offensive 

 odor and becomes turbid through the presence of myriads of 

 organisms which under a very high power of the microscope 

 appear as short, colorless rods (B). These are seen to be in 

 rapid motion, but it is only by special staining and very 

 great magnification that the exceedingly delicate lash-like 

 projections which cause the movcunent can be discerned. 

 The ability of these plants to feed upon the organic substances 

 dissolved in the water about them, renders it unnecessary 

 for them to manufacture food for themselves by the aid of 

 sunlight out of inorganic materials; hence like all fungi they 

 can dispense with chlorophyll, and grow as well, often better, 

 in the dark than in the light. A plant which feeds upon dead 



