682 Marvels of the Universe 
that the comb-cells are 
of two kinds, a small 
cell wherein are bred the 
Worker Bees, and a large 
cell from which the drones 
are produced. We watch 
the Queen dealing with 
a group of worker-cells, 
and then see her pass to 
the neighbouring drone- 
cells, into which she thrusts 
her body in exactly the 
same way. From _ these 
presently she may go on 
to more worker-comb ; and 
again, a little later we 
may find her on drone- 
comb once more, as busy 
as ever. 
But we have seen that 
from the eggs placed in the 
small cells little Worker 
ee Ae Bees are always hatched, 
Photo by] [P. Step, F.L.S. and from those laid in the 
PLANT OR ANIMAL? ; 
Tis cnpen inorn Maes dha Geo dim ip 8G Gin Gos eth pedieetions fa dhe cide, ‘SEP Calls [psowesc! um 
The organisms, attracted by light, passed through the perforations to the outside of the variably great, full-bodied 
box—quite an animal proceeding. drones! And, again, we 
have watched the egg in the queen-cell develop into a magnificent Queen Bee, a creature 
differing from the other two kinds of hive-inhabitants in half a dozen ways plainly evident to the 
naked eye. We cannot now escape the conclusion, therefore, that the Mother Bee—in addition to 
her power of producing an enormous number of fertile eggs for years in succession, has also this 
further astonishing faculty :—that she can lay three totally different kinds of eggs at will, changing 
from one variety to the other just when and where it pleases her. 
There is no doubt of the marvel of this, nor of the mystery ; and even when we arrive at an 
understanding of how it all comes about, though the seemingly miraculous side of the matter dis- 
appears, we find ourselves face to face with a greater marvel than ever. 
PLANT OR ANIMAL—WHICH? 
BY EDWARD STEP, F.L.S. 
AmoncG the many living creatures that are known only to the naturalists, there is a small group of 
organisms that for long have been somewhat of a worry to those who like to put everything into its 
proper place—allied plants in appropriate classes and orders, and allied animals in other classes 
and orders. Some authorities say these are animals; others that they are plants related to the 
Fungi. The only English name that has been given to them is that of Slime Fungi, which is, of 
course, objected to by some, as it settles the question of their nature off-hand. Scientifically, they 
have been variously styled Myxomycetes, Mycetozoa and Myxogastres. 
It was the great De Bary who. started the trouble. Himself a botanist, he said, in the work 
that added so greatly to our knowledge of these organisms: ‘‘I have placed the Myxomycetes, 
