CHAPTER II. 



Subdivision I.— MYCETOZOA. 



Peculiarities presented during the Vegetative Phase — Characteristic 

 Features of the Reproductive Phase — Affinities — Occurrence. 



The Mycetozoa, known also by the older names of Myxo- 

 gastres and Myxomycetes, were until recently considered as 

 belonging to the Fungi, some groups of which they superfi- 

 cially resemble in the mature condition ; but a careful study 

 of the life-history of several typical forms has shown that this 

 idea is untenable, and some of the best authorities consider 

 the group as entirely outside the Vegetable Kingdom. The 

 species are saprophytes, and either aquatic or more generally 

 met with on decaying wood or other vegetable matter 

 during their vegetative condition. There are two principal 

 groups, the Myxomycetes and the Acrasiece. 



Class I. — Myxomycetes. 

 The spores on germination give origin to motile cells, 

 which are either furnished with cilia or move in an amoe- 

 boid manner by the protrusion of pseudopodia. During 

 the active period the spores multiply rapidly by division, 

 eventually the cilia are withdrawn, and sluggish amoeboid 

 movements only take place previous to the formation of a 



