THE P.ATHiM.KMi SI.I.MK-KrN'i.l. 523 



mode of reproduction a close resemblance to the Kmi-i. and a- 

 ;i result of their lack of chlorophyll, they share \vith I'.ac- 

 teria ami Fungi the peculiarities of -aprophytie and para.-itie 

 nutrition. 



The vegetative 1'ody of the Slime-fungi consists of naked 

 protoplasm without a tirnt membrane. Multiplication is eitect.-d 

 chiefiy by spherical spores with the same external aj.p.-aram-.- 

 as the usual fungus-spore. Immediately "ii reaching maturity 

 the spores germinate in water and burst, -'-11111- free a ma-- "f 

 plasma provided with a nucleus and vacuoles, and in which an 

 outer movable hyaloplasma can be distinguished IV" m an eni-l"-t-d 

 granular plasma. The hyaloplasma gives oil' delicate p-eudopodia 

 capable of extension and retraction, it may al-o take the form 

 of a flagellum or of cilia. The organi>m is enabl.-d by nn-an- 

 of the pseudopodia to creep over firm obj.-ct- as an "amoeba "; 

 by the cilia it can propel itself through water, as a " -waiim-i 

 or "zoospore." A zoospore in the course of its development 

 -'ill-rally loses its cilia and becomes an amoeba, and both 

 forms can multiply by division. The amoebae creep t-fther 

 in large numbers, and either coalesce completely into mas 

 or remain simply in contact as aggregations. In this way 

 plasmodia are formed, frequently of considerable si/e and of 

 conspicuous colour. The plasmodia maintain a r"ii-tant move- 

 ment, both as a whole and in the form of internal -[learning-. 

 K'e-ling Stages have been nbserved at each motile Stage "f 

 the life-hi-iory : thus swarm-spores re.-t as mier<>c\-t-, young 

 plasmodia as thick-walled cysts, and mature pla-iii"dia as multi- 



i-elllllar sclerotia. 



Multiplication of the My. \omycetes also take.- place by -[ - 



tormation. In tin- Acrasieae and I'hytomyxinae the spores are 



<lc\ eloped fVeely IVoln the plasma. The I'Xo-polvae. a \el\ 



small di\ision, have their -pore- de\eloped on iln- mit-ide 

 of -porojiboic-. In the greater number ( Kndo-poieae i the 

 sporefi are I'ormed in special enclosure-, uhich may lie a -]>"i - 

 an-iiim jirodiieed from a single plasniodiiim, or an aethaliiim a 

 cii-hion-like structure consisting of numeimis impeifeeil\ deimeil 

 -poiangia. Tin- sporangia an- ofien of con-idcrable ome- 



limi'- noi unlike the aporocarpfi of tin- Gaste lycetes, -phei-je.d 



or peai ---haped and .-talked. Spi'i'an-jia of tin- hi-jld\ de\eloped 

 kinl may even exhibit a reitain differentiation int" a wall "i 



