THE GENUS MUCOR 



389 



on wet blotting-paper ; leave until mouldy. Various species of 

 fungi make their appearance. Look especially for Mucor Mucedo 

 or M. racemosus, known by their round sporangia, which look 

 like small pin-heads on the ends of thin white stalks. 



When obtained, take up with fine pointed forceps a very small 

 portion, and transfer to a drop of water on a slide. Cover with 

 cover-slip, and examine the hyphae bearing the sporangia ; note 

 the absence of septa in the hyphae. 



The sporangia, with ripe spores in them, burst immediately 

 when placed in water. 



Examine the oval spores with a high power. 



To see the spores within the sporangia, take the hyphaa bearing 



B 



FIG. 56. Moist chamber for observing the germination and growth of spores in 

 hanging-drops. b Cardboard with circular hole punched in it, resting on ordinary 

 glass slide. B Section of A with cover-slip (c) and hanging-drop (r) in position. 



them with forceps and mount in alcohol on a slide : then examine 

 quickly with a high power. 



Ex. 173. In order to observe the germination of these and 

 other spores, and watch their subsequent development for a time, 

 a moist chamber, prepared as follows, is necessary : 



Place fifteen or sixteen pieces of blotting-paper on one another 

 and punch out, or cut out, a round or square hole slightly less 

 than the size of a three-quarter inch cover-slip. Cut the blotting- 

 paper afterwards so as to fit on a slide, as in A, Fig. 56. 



