The North American Slime Moulds

Abstract

THE group of organisms known as Myxomycetes, or as Mycetozoa of De Bary and Rostafinski, has of late years received much careful study in the United States. In 1834 Schweinitz published his “Synopsis of North American Fungi,” and his large collection of Myxomycetes has been recognised in that country as the standard authority for reference. In 1848 Curtis contributed articles to journals on the subject, and both he and Ravenel made extensive gatherings in the southeastern States. Since that time American investigators, conspicuous among whom should be mentioned Prof. Peck and the late Dr. G. A. Rex, have done excellent work; new species have been discovered, and large collections have been made in different parts of the States. The professors of botany have brought the Myxomycetes into their course of instruction, and a literature has sprung up founded to a considerable extent on local research.

The North American Slime Moulds.

By Prof. T. H. McBride. Pp. xvii + 231, and plates. (New York: the Macmillan Company. London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1899.)