SCIENCE- G OS SIP. 



the particles of dead leaves it has absorbed. It 

 continues in this stage for an indefinite period, 

 sometimes extending to months, according to the 

 species and atmospheric conditions. After having 

 taken sufficient nourishment, it collects itself into 

 small masses that gradually become matured and 

 form sporangia, which are stationary. In some 

 genera the plasmodium forms a compacted mass 

 in which the sporangia may be partially separated 



ClUBRARIA VIOLACEA. 



(From a drawing by Miss G. Lister.) 



at the base, or they may be perfectly united when 

 the walls become obsolete. In this, known as the 

 fruiting, stage the Mycetozoa may be regarded as 

 plants, as they exhibit close affinities with the 

 vegetable kingdom. 



The sporangia often contain a delicate mass of 

 hair-like structures, called a capillitium, which is 

 sometimes beautifully ornamented. This, on 

 maturing, may either be contained within the 

 sporangium, as in Badhamia, or it may expand 

 considerably in length, as in Arcyria, in which 

 case it helps to distribute the spores. The 

 principal agent in the dispersal is the wind, and 

 by its means the spores, as impalpable dust, are 

 carried long distances, traversing oceans and 

 continents. 



The matured sporangia are usually well suited 

 for the preparation of cabinet specimens. They 

 may be preserved for years if carefully mounted, 

 and the colours may also be retained if they are 

 kept from the light. It is desirable also to pre- 

 pare microscopic mounts from correctly named 

 specimens for the purpose of future reference. 

 Eeverting, however, to the plasmodium, or feeding, 

 stage of these organisms, perhaps the best known 

 is that of Badhamia utrictdaris, which may be 



found in almost any damp wood in the autumn, 

 especially if the weather is mild and moist. On 

 moving a decayed log in such situations there may 

 sometimes be observed a yellow mass creeping in 

 fans and veins over the decaying woody fibre or 

 on the living mosses or fungi that maybe attached 

 to the log. Care should be exercised in removing 

 it if it is desired to collect a specimen, as it is 

 very sensitive to injury. The plasmodium may be 

 placed on a moistened plate, covered with a glass 

 or an opaque vessel, and kept in a warm room. 

 After a few hours it will commence to throw out a 

 number of fan-shaped processes. If a moistened 

 glass is placed in its path it will probably 

 creep over it, and when a sufficient quantity 

 is thus transferred the slide is ready for 

 microscopic examination. A 1-inch objective 

 should be sufficiently powerful to show a well 

 marked circulation of the granular contents of the 

 veins. The current moves in one direction for 

 about a minute and a half, then pauses, and the 

 flow continues in the opposite direction for a 

 similar period. The reason of these alternating 

 movements is still unknown. If the plasmodium 



BADHAMIA OV1SPOHA. 



(From a drawing by Miss G. Lister.) 



is supplied with suitable food and kept under 

 proper conditions, it will increase in size until it is 

 ready for the fruiting stage. 



An allied species, Badhamia nitens, is of less 

 frequent occurrence. It is usually found on fallen 

 oak branches; the plasmodium is greenish-yellow, 

 and is generally. in smaller masses than in the 

 preceding species. Until recently it was known to 

 occur only in Britain ; but in 1896 it was found in 

 Antigua by Mr. Cran, and there is also a gather- 

 ing in the British Museum that was obtained in 

 Ceylon. 



