14 Lister . — Notes on the Plasmodium of 
I have repeatedly examined cotton wool to see if there 
was any appearance of absorption, but find that no change 
takes place, even when it has been penetrated by the plas- 
modium for many weeks together. 
To sum up these experiments,— they indicate a remarkable 
power possessed by the plasmodium of Badhamia of discrimi- 
nating between different foods. We find that it can be raised 
from a sluggish and scarcely moving condition to one of great 
activity by supplying it with Agaricus campestris , Boletus 
flavus , or with the prepared hymenial surface of Stereum hir - 
sutum ; that the coarser fibres of the latter fungus are more 
slowly absorbed, but that this plant is so nutritious to the 
plasmodium that it grows rapidly and healthily upon it. 
We find that Agaricus melleus and A. rubescens , though 
quickly overspread, are less freely assimilated and afford doubt- 
ful nourishment; while with A. fascicularis we see that for 
three hours the plasmodium refused it altogether ; and when 
at last invaded, in one instance the section was rejected and 
never touched again, and in the other, like a hungry man 
with an unwholesome meal, the creature fed, but almost died 
of indigestion. 
We find that starch, when swollen by moderate heat, is 
absorbed, which is proved, not only by the manner in which 
the grains are eroded or disappear, but by its stimulating 
influence on the plasmodium, while raw starch and cotton 
wool are not affected 1 . 
Again, these experiments show, that whatever may be the 
digestive principle of plasmodium (possibly a peptonising 
ferment as suggested by Krukenberg 2 ), it is not confined to 
1 The spores of fungi also appear to be protected by their firm walls, and an 
Oidium or small pullulating fungus (Fig. n , c, d) which always accompanies the 
plasmodium of Badhamia is not only uninjured, but would seem to thrive within 
its substance ; it forms a considerable proportion of the refuse matter thrown out 
by retreating waves upon the sides of the moist chamber, where it multiplies with 
great rapidity. 
2 See De Bary, Comparative Morphology and Biology of the Fungi, Mycetozoa 
and Bacteria, p. 452. 
