14 
INTRODUCTION, 
each areola now rises in a shortly cylindrical projection from the 
surface of the sporophore, carrying with it a hyaline investment, 
which becomes constricted at the base of the cylindrical process. 
This constriction is continued until an elongated membranous 
stalk is foi^med, bearing at its apex a globule containing the 
protoplasmic matter with its nucleus. The contents of the globule 
develops in the course of a few hours into the ellipsoid spoie ; thLs 
is enclosed in a membranous wall, and is easily detached from the 
stalk. The gelatinous sporophore dries to a membrane of the 
frailest structure, and disappears with the first shower of rain. 
The process by. which the eight swarm-cells derive their nuclei 
from the single nucleus of the areolar space of the sporophore 
has not been followed ; but, judging from analogy, we conclude 
that a succession of divisions took place from the original nucleus. 
It appears uncertain how far the changes met with in the sporo- 
phores of Ceratiomyxa have an exact parallel in what is seen in 
the development of the sporangia of the Endosporeoe. Taking the 
sporophore as representing the sporangium, we have in both cases 
a structure developing from the plasmodium and consisting of 
supporting elements and spore-plasm. In all the Endospore(B, so 
far as has been observed, the nuclei divide by karyokinesis shortly 
before the spores are formed, and this division is accompanied in 
many instances, as before mentioned, by the lobing of spore-plasm 
into masses of two spores' capacity round the dividing nucleus. If 
the stalked bodies formed on the surface of the sporophore corre- 
spond with the spores of ^hQEndosporeoe,, we should expect a previous 
karyokinetic division of nuclei to have taken place ; a process 
which has hitherto, however, escaped detection in stained pre- 
parations. We should then view the division of the spore-contents 
of Ceratiomyxa into eight swarm-cells, as corresponding with a series 
of multiplications of a 'swarm-cell of the Endosporem with arrested 
cell-division. But the whole process requires further careful 
investigation, and, with the facts already in our possession, there 
are two other hypotheses which may be suggested as possible. 
The areolae of the sporophore may represent the masses of two 
spores' capacity present round the dividing nucleus in many of the 
Endosporeoi ; but in this case the masses become encysted and 
stalked, nuclear division is deferred until the cysts are fully 
formed, and it is not until these have been placed in water that 
the cyst-wall is thrown off and the contents divided into eight 
naked spores. A third and widely different view takes what have 
commonly been regarded as eqviivalent to epores in Cei'atiomyxa 
as representing stalked sporangia, arising in great numbers and 
regularity from the surface of the gelatinous body, which corre- 
sponds to a branched and complex hypothallus. Each sporangium, 
which at first contains a single nucleus, on being placed in water 
throws oif its sporangium- wall and divides into eight naked spores. 
Should either of 1;he two latter views prove to be the true one, 
the definition of the Myceiozoa would require to be modified, for 
the rhythmic streaming of its plasmodium and the character of its 
