fta tmd Dcvelom 



stages which we mav .elect, that appear to indicate the proba- 

 ble course of the development. 



1. Anion- certain of the M^to-on or M,fs<n„mt,s. tlie Slime 

 Molds, we find some very suggestive forms that are appar- 

 ently near the beginning of the differentiation. They are 



class of organisms placed in cither kingdom as the lowest 

 group, their animal or vegetable nature being in question, 

 although authorities seem to incline toward believing them of 

 slightly preponderating animal nature. In the lower Slime 

 Molds belonging to the group Acrasieas, the life history is 

 shortly this: From the spore (fig. 13, a), on germination 

 there creeps out a naked motile mass of protoplasm, which 

 takes nourishment, grows and reproduces rapidly by divid- 

 ing, the products of the division being in each case similar 

 swarm spores (fig. 13, b-f). Alter an extended vegetation of 

 this sort, a number of the swarm spores collect into a " herd " 

 and creep about in company for a time, after which two of 

 them, apparently through accident, come closer together and 

 adhere. Now the others close in and unite with these two. 

 forming what is termed a plftsniudinnt (tig. 13. r». Bur in thi- 

 union each swarm spore retains its individuality, the union 

 being merely an adhesion, not even a fusion of the individual 

 protoplasms." They creep around in this plasm, .dium form for 

 a time until ready 'to complete the cycle by forming the mature 



