198 The Fungi of Wiltshire. 



discovery of their mode of growth, viz., from Zoospores. At the time 

 his first observations were made, these bodies were not known to 

 exist in Fungi; they have however been discovered since in other 

 orders of those plants as well as in the Myxogastres, as in Cystopus 

 candidus, and Peronospora. De Bary names the Myxogastres 

 anew, and calls them Mycetozoa, from their resemblance to indi- 

 viduals of both the animal and . vegetable kingdoms. The substance 

 of his observations is, that the spores when moistened burst, and 

 their contents escape in the form of colourless vesicles, which 

 gradually change their shape, precisely like Amcebse (a genus of 

 Infusoria), and assumes various forms, which are provided with 

 motile cilia, afterwards hollow spaces appear in the substance of 

 these bodies, which are constantly spreading out and branching, 

 these hollow spaces dilate and contract. The cilia at length dis- 

 appear, and the ainseba-like bodies extend themselves over the sub- 

 stance they grow on, by a creeping motion. De Bary calls their 

 branches " Barcode strings," and he asserts that the peridia are 

 developed direct from these strings. This mode of growth has 

 been seen by other persons, and though extremely singular, is not 

 considered at all decisive of the animal nature of these bodies. 

 The fact of other Fungi having been found to produce Zoospores, 

 and the analogy of the perfect state of the Myxogastres to some 

 undoubted Fungi induces most botanists to retain them where they 

 were. They deserve however a careful study, as well on account of 

 their curious history, as for the great elegance of their forms and 

 structure. 



Genus LXX., Lycogala Mich. Peridium composed of a double 

 membrane, papyraceous, persistent, bursting irregularly at the 

 apex, externally warty, or furfuraceous. Flocci delicate, adnate to 

 the peridium. 



Lycogala epidendrum Fr., common on dead stumps, &c. 



Genus LXXL, Reticularia Bull. Peridium indeterminate simple, 

 thin, naked, bursting irregularly, fugitive. Flocci attached to the 

 peridium, flat, branched, subreticulate. 



( To be continued.) 



