A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 13 



strict homologies, and we are limited to the observation of 

 resemblances in form, structure, and mode of life." 



1. Frequent presence of cellulose in the general membrane 

 protecting plasmodia, cell-walls of spores, sporangia, and walls 

 enclosing the protoplasm in the sclerotioid or resting stage of 

 plasmodia. 



2. Presence of germ-pores in the cell-walls of the spores, of 

 some species. 



3. The frequent separation of lime from the protoplasm at the 

 commencement of the reproductive phase. 



4. In the frequent separation of a substance from the pro- 

 toplasm during the period of spore formation, homologous with 

 the substance separated during the same period in the Ascomy- 

 cctes, Mucorini, &c. This substance in the Myxogastres forms 

 the capillitium. 



5. The agreement with many fungi in the contrivances for 

 spore dissemination. 



6. The production by free cell-formation of spores protected 

 in the early stage with a wall of cellulose, which eventually 

 becomes differentiated, and as stated by De Bary, "behaves 

 towards reagents in a similar manner to cuticularized plant- 

 cell-membranes and to spore-membranes as in the Fungi." l 



7. Presenting analogy with undoubted members of the 

 vegetable kingdom, as Hyclrodictyon, where the naked, motile 

 swarm-cells coalesce to form a coenobium which eventually 

 becomes invested with a membrane. 



8. In the close affinity with the genus Ceratium, where we 

 trace the sequence which leads to what is morphologically a 

 mycelium furnished with transverse septa. In Ceratium the 

 spores do not originate by free-cell-formation within a sporan- 

 gium, but are produced after the manner of the spores of the 

 Basidiomycetes or the conidia of the Hyphomycetes. The general 

 course of development in all the species, so far as can be deter- 

 mined from herbarium specimens, agrees with that of Ceratium 

 hydnoides as described by Famintzin and Woronin, 2 the specific 



1 Tom. cit. p. 441. 



2 Mem. Acad. Petersburg, XX, No. 3 (1873). 



