108 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



The process of hanlcniug employed was the onlinary metliod, by 

 1 per cent, chroiuacetic acid (0 • 7 per cent, chromic acid aud • 3 per 

 cent, acetic acid) ; the spoi-augia were carefully washed with boiling 

 water, aud theu plunged iu alcohol of 30 per cent. ; at the end of some 

 weeks transverse sections of the reproductive bodies were made and 

 the protoplasmic matter coloured by haematoxyliu. 



The numerous nuclei found in the protoplasm are stated by 

 Strasbiu'ger to be simply those of the myxamcebfB, persisting after 

 their fusion. These nuclei only commence to divide when the capilli- 

 tium is formed ; the division taking place in the oidiuary way, but 

 arresting at the last stage, no cellular phite being formed. The mode 

 of division of the nucleus in this myxomycete therefore approaches, 

 like some others of its characteristics, that of animals. 



The formation of the membrane of the sporangium is preceded by 

 that of a dense cortical layer of protoplasm, provided with nuclei, the 

 microsomes of which are disposed iu radial threads. Like the micro- 

 somes of the cellular plate, and like the starch-generators, these 

 generate a new substance ; the membrane of the sporangium is formed 

 by their coalescence. Its very fine radial striation results from the 

 arrangement of these microsomes in radial threads ; but in the inner- 

 most region of this envelope, the coloration of which is brown, these 

 striae are not seen. The membrane of the sporangium of Trichia 

 fallax displays therefore two layers, recalling those of Marsilea, not 

 only in their structure, but also in the mode of their formation. 

 According to Strasburger, this membrane increases by the apposition 

 of new layers of microsomes, not by intussusception, a theory which 

 would not explain the following fact observed by the author. The 

 membrane of the young sporangium becomes folded at certain spots ; 

 as develoj^ment proceeds the wall becomes thickened on the inside at 

 these spots, and a new cellulose-layer is formed covering all the 

 sinuosities, the interior surface becoming smooth. There remains at 

 the bottom of the original folds the residue of the protoplasm, which 

 is not transformed into cellulose. 



The transformation of the capillitium furnishes fresh arguments 

 in favour of the theory of cell-formation held by Strasburger. The 

 filaments of which it is composed, although hollow in their interior, 

 cannot be compared to cells ; they originate from vacuoles, and are 

 therefore destitute of nuclei. The membrane of these vacuoles is at 

 first comjiosed of numerous microsomes, which rapidly multiply, 

 followdng several spiral lines which subsequently constitute the 

 ornaments of the capillitium. The mode of production of these sjurals 

 is therefore altogether identical with that of the spiral thickenings of 

 spiral vessels. 



De Bary's Fungi, Mycetozoa, and Bacteria.* — A. de Bary's book 

 is divided into three parts: Fungi proper, Mycetozoa, and Bac- 

 teria or Schizomycetes. The first part is subdivided into sections, 

 the fii'st of these treating of the general morj^hology of fungi, and 



* Bary, A. de, ' Vcrgkicbeude Morphologie und Biologic derPilze, Mycetozoen 

 und Bacterien,' 558 pp. and 198 figs. 8vo, Leipzig, 1884. 



