12 A Monogrcqih of the Myxogastres. 



them. Hence in inquiring after their affinities we must be 

 content with searching for a possible connection with an in- 

 ferior group, and for the simpler forms from which they have 

 proceeded. 



" When we seek for such a connection among the forms with 

 which we are acquainted, we find it impossible to establish any 

 strict homologies, and we are limited to the observation of 

 resemblances in form, structure, and mode of life. Such a course 

 of unprejudiced comparison leads us by a very short step to 

 the naked 'Amoebae' of the zoologists, especially in Biitschli's 

 sense, as the starting-point, organisms witii bodies having the 

 amoeboid movements of the swarm-cells of the Myxomycetes, 

 which multiply, as far we at present know, by successive biparti- 

 tions without forming plasmodia, and which may pass singly and 

 without aggregation or coalescence into states of rest not essen- 

 tially different in their characteristics from those of the spores 

 of the Myxomycetes." ^ 



Undoubtedly the Myxogastres must be considered as a 

 terminal group, and the very fact of this admission implies a 

 certain amount of differentiation, ■ in fact sufficient to give 

 individuality to the group. I accept De Bary's reasoning as to 

 the origin of the Myxogastres, and as an evolutionist am ready 

 to extend the same reasoning to other groups, as having had a 

 common origin from the lowest forms of life, where, owing to 

 absence of differentiation, the ideas implied in the terms animal 

 and vegetable respectively are not evolved, and I consider that 

 the entire evidence as to the animal or plant tendency of any 

 departure from this neutral starting-point consists of the aggre- 

 gate tendency of the evolved features which collectively consti- 

 tute the characteristics of the group under consideration ; and 

 this tendency as manifested by the Myxogastres I consider to be 

 in the direction of the vegetable kingdom, and more especially 

 in the direction of the Fungi, for the following reasons, which, 

 keeping in view the fact that we are dealing with a terminal 

 group, and consequently can draw no comparisons from higher 

 forms of the same type, "we find it impossible to establish any 



1 Tom. cit. p. 443. 



