MB. W. H. BURRELL ON MYCETOZOA. 
449 
y. 
MYCETOZOA.* 
Synonyms, Myxomycetes, Myxogastres, Slime Fungi. 
By W. H. Burrell. 
Read 29th November , 1S98. 
Tiie subject of this paper has not been overlooked in the past 
by the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society. As far back 
as 1872 (‘ Transactions,’ vo 1. i. part iv.) Dr. Plowright published 
a list of Fungi including several Myxomycetes, and this list was 
supplemented in 188.'5 (‘Transactions,’ vol. iii. part v.) ; but, 
learning from the Secretary that it has never been dealt with 
here apart from the other branches of the great family of Fungi, 
it occurred to mo that a short account of the life history of the 
class might be of interest. 
There are three stages in the life cycle of Mycetozoa : — 
(a) Spore — producing a swarm cell. 
(b) Plasmodium — the vegetative stage produced by the fusion of 
large numbers of swarm cells. 
( c ) Sporangium — the reproductive stage. 
l’he Spores are tiny masses of protoplasm four to fourteen ^ 
diameter enclosed in cell walls of congealed protoplasm, which 
rupture on germination and allow the contents to escape. These 
swarm ceils, each possessing a single nucleus and flagellum, swim 
freely in water or creep as myxamoebae ; for a few days after 
germination they increase rapidly in number by bi-partition, the 
flagellum is then withdrawn, true amoeboid movements are adopted, 
* This paper was illustrated with specimens of living plasmodium, sclero- 
tium, and sporangia; lantern slides, photographs, Miss Lister’s sketch of 
Dmcheea subsessilis (Peck), and some plasmodium which had revived and 
crept on to glass after remaining dormant as sclerotium for three years. 
