86 
Journal of Mycology [Vol. 9 
Four of these genera and thirteen species occur in this coun¬ 
try and have been cultivated by Mr. Olive. 
For the method of work and detail of observations, the 
reader must seek the splendid essay. The interest of it is all 
lost in such a bare outline as we must necessarily give; hence 
any dissent from the original must be taken as mere suggestion 
and any fault-finding as extremely superficial. 
On page 493, first line Arcyriaceae is probably intended in¬ 
stead of Physaraceae. The species of Arcyria and also some 
species of Hemiarcyria fulfill the conditions mentioned. 
The physiological phenomena are as a general thing pre¬ 
sented cautiously; we are, however, rather disposed to cavil at 
the statement on page 489, and elsewhere that “the individuals 
during the fructifying period probably in response to some chemo- 
tropic stimulus, unite to form colonies.” Every physiological 
process is dependent upon both internal and external factors; the 
specific shape and nature of an organism are inherited properties; 
from an acorn nothing but an Oak can develop. See Pfeffer. 
Our dislike of the pseudo prefix is apparent. We may have 
to tolerate the venerable pseudo podium, but not the rest. This 
evasive prefix is, however, in common use and its employment 
by Mr. Olive is not original. The term syncitium, we are aware, 
has been otherwise made use of, but its application both by Vines 
and Verworn, for example, seems to us superfluous; it is emi¬ 
nently applicable to the assembling amoebae of the Acrasieae. 
Finally, where shall we place these organisms? In their 
active assimilating and reproductive stage, they are simple 
Amoebae. It would be interesting to know how they come to 
their peculiar habitat; did they survive in the drinking water 
or did they crawl out upon the land, catching at straws by the 
way? In view of this habitat their appearance in their present 
shape cannot be extremely ancient. The Sporozoa are not near 
akin to them. Their relation to the Amoebidae is closer than is 
that of the Myxomycetes. The fact is, both are short divergent 
members from the advancing animal line. 
The Vegetable Kingdom is not in line with any of the 
Protozoa. It is safe to claim that the bacterial cell is the lowest 
cell-form that can without question be called a plant; from this 
all other vegetation has been derived. The systematic succession 
between plant and animal does not seem to us so well established, 
as some would have us think; there is much confusion in this 
respect, among the lower organisms. As having a bearing upon 
this subject, we can here only refer to Thaxter’s Myxobacter- 
iaceae. 
