322 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Nov. 



fig-. 2; sporang-ia and spores, X 50, fig-. 2 a ; persistent 

 apices of the peridia, fig. 2 b. 



Lindbladia effusa. A group of sporangia X 30, fig. 3; 

 a single spore, X 1400 fig. 3 a. 



Tubifera furruginosa. Group of sporangia, X 5, fig. 4. 



Cribraria dictydioides. Three sporangia, X 15, fig. 5 

 a single sporangium showing- reticulate thickening, X 60, 

 fig-. 5 a ; a spore, X 1400, fig. 5 b. 



Dictydium cancellatum. Sporang-ium X 30, fig. 6; par 

 of the peridial wall, seen from within, X 84, fig-. 6 a. 



Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa. Three sporiferous pillars, X 

 40, fig. 7 ; tip of a single pillar, X 84, fig. 7 a. 



Hemitrichia stipata. Sporangia, X 6, fig. 8 ; capillitium 

 of same, X 750, fig. 8 a; a single spore X 1000, fig. 8 b. 



The following paragraphs are quoted from the intro- 

 duction to this volume which should be iu the hands of 

 every microscopist for use in identifying species : 



The Myxomycetes,or Slime-moulds, include certain very 

 delicate and extremely beautiful fungus-like organisms 

 common in all the moist and wooded regions of the earth. 

 Deriving sustenance, as they for the most part do, in the 

 decomposition-products of organic matter, they are usu- 

 ally to be found upon or near decaying logs, sticks, leaves, 

 and other masses of vegetable detritus, wherever the 

 quantity of such material is suflScient to insure continu- 

 ous moisture. In fruit, however, Slime-moulds may oc- 

 cur on objects of any and every sort. Their minuteness 

 retires them from ordinary ken ; but such is the extreme 

 beauty of their microscopic structure, such the exceeding 

 interest of their life history, that for many years enthu- 

 siastic students have found the group one of peculiar fas- 

 cination, in some respects, at least, the most interesting 

 and remarkable that falls beneath our lenses. 



The Slime-moulds present in the course of their life 

 history two very distinct phases : the vegetative, or grow- 

 ing, assimilating phase, and the reproductive. The for- 

 mer is in many cases inconspicuous and therefore unob- 



