THALLOGENS. 247 
seems to be somewhat stiff. Their motion seems to be caused by 
the continual agitation of two long ciliw of excessive fineness 
which spring from behind the anterior extremity of the spiral on 
which they seem to fold themselves. The posterior extremity, 
namely, that which is dragged along by the advancing antherozoid, 
is granular, thicker, and less defined than the rest of the body. 
When the cilice diminish in activity, it is easy to see that motion 
originates at their base and extends by waves in the direction of 
their length. Iodine, alcohol, ammonia, and the acids, stop these 
movements, the cilize resisting the action of ammonia longer than 
the other parts of the antherozoids.” The phenomena which he 
has described M. Thuret considers unquestionably of the same 
nature as in the Mosses, their function being, as he believes, im- 
pregnation ; for which purpose the spore-cases seem to be con- 
structed, being surmounted by five cells surrounding a small canal, 
when young forming a sort of stigmatic coronal, which disappears 
at a later period when the reproductive body has arrived at a 
certain stage of growth. 
FUNGALEsS. 
The Fungi, or Mushrooms, form an extensive section of Thallo- 
Sens. Their best known form is the Mushroom, in which we 
recognise the true sporidia, contained in asci or sporule cases as 
the organs of reproduction. But it includes forms of infinite 
diversity, the least noticeable of which perhaps are the minute sub- 
stances which appear in and upon decomposing fluids, and as 
vegetable parasites upon many living animals and plants. All 
alike, however, consist exclusively of cellular tissue, although they 
vag widely in their arrangement, and especially in the nature of 
their reproductive organs. Inthe more minute bodies just alluded 
to, the organ of fructification is simply an enlarged asci contain- 
mg the spores. But in the Mushroom the sporidia are contained 
2 @ sporule case, and in some others there are movable sporal 
fibres or elaters. They vary widely in form, size, colour, and 
duration ; but one of their most common characteristics is rapid 
Growth and brief duration. The most conspicuous species are dis- 
: ed by elegance of shape and bright glossy colours. But 
