<r 



MONOGRAPH OF THE MYXOGASTRES. 185 



known attempts at differentiation in the direction that has eventually 

 resulted in the mass of organisms constituting the vegetable 

 kingdom, but having originated from the Flagellate, a group more 

 in touch with the animal side of life, the work of developing 

 individuality has been slow, as illustrated by the tardy appearance 

 of cellulose cell-walls, which, as would be expected, is most complete 

 in the newly evolved reproductive phase, itself to a great extent the 

 outcome of a gradual change of environment from aquatic to aerial 

 — but the radical mistake, after having adopted the plant line of 

 development, consisted in the non-development of chromatophores, 

 and retention of the animal mode of nutrition, which in the plant 

 world means parasite or saprophyte. The fungi, a later group, 

 differentiated from ancestors that had already evolved the leadin^ 

 plant characteristics, including cell- walls, chlorophyll, starch, hence 

 in this respect are more typical plants than the Myxogastres ; but 

 in the fungi the check to progress was due to the degeneration of 

 chromatophores, already evolved by their ancestors, whereas in the 

 Myxogastres the check was due to their inability to differentiate 

 these essentials." 



If life were still before us (instead of an editor with his 

 "abhorred shears"), it might be a pretty exercise to subject 

 this statement to the verbal analytic process which Mr. Massee 

 applies to De Bary. The main thing to be thankful for in 

 any case is that none of our ancestors, whatever their other 

 enormities may have been, developed chromatophores and took 

 the plant line of evolution. Parasites though we be after the 

 manner of our remotest ancestors, those early FlagellataB (or 

 others) to which we look back knew a thing or two when they 

 held aloof while their garish neighbours sported chromatophores. 

 The Mycetozoa were an irresolute lot, and tried to compromise 

 matters by taking "the plant line" of business, without the courage 

 of their opinions in the matter of chromatophores, and we see them 

 at this day in the pitiful position where we might have been 

 ourselves. The fungi repented too late — the mischief was more 

 effectually done in their case, and thus we see the futility of mere 

 good intentions — " sed revocare gradum, superasque evadere ad 

 auras, hie labor hoc opus est." 



It is refreshing to turn from the gaseous realms of speculation 

 to the solid ground of the systematic treatment of the Myxogastres. 

 After all, this is the business of the monographer. The fashion of 

 our fathers was to lighten the labours of monographing — especially 

 sea-weeds — with outbursts of poetry; but the M romance of science," 

 as it is called, has killed all true sentiment, and given us instead 

 certain sublime theories of descent. It would possibly be worth 

 the trouble — it would certainly be a salutary proceeding — if 

 Mr. Wallace would examine some of these cases of " particular 

 instances" of evolution, and — after holding an inquisition into the 

 methods employed and instituting a comparison of them with the 

 endless pains taken by Mr. Darwin, and his modesty of literary 

 expression — would invite certain modern writers of repute to be 

 heartily ashamed. The blazing ruins of recent speculation are 



