classification of the bacteria. 59 



Cl. 2. Zygospores. 



A. Volvocineee. A'. Myxomycetes. 



B. Conjugueee and Dia- B'. Zygomycetes, 

 toms. 



Cl. 3. Oospores. 



A. Sphseroplese. 



B. Coeloplastese. Saprolegnise. 



C. GEdogonise. Peronosporese. 



Cl. 4. Carpospores. 



A. Coleochaetese. A'. Ascomycetes. 



B. Floridese. B'. CEcidiomycetes. 



C. Characese. C. Basidiomycetes. 



Our preferences are for this last mode of classi- 

 fication, but obliged, in the description of species, 

 to follow the classification of Cohn, the most com- 

 plete which has been given hitherto, we must 

 abandon it for the present. 



§ 2. — Classification ; Generic and Specific 

 Characters. 



The numerous classifications of the bacteria of 

 which we have given an abstract in the historical 

 part of this work, show how variable have been 

 the ideas of the microscopists as to the nature of 

 these organisms. 



Before giving the most recent, those among 

 which we will have to choose, it is best to study 

 the characters upon which authors have depended 

 for grouping the bacteria in genera and species, 

 and to estimate the value of these characters. 



