These minute organisms seem to occupy an intermediate position in the world of life and have been claimed successfully by botanists and zoologists as subjects with the scope of work of each.
Certainly in the early stages of the organisms’ career, active movement takes place similar to that in the Flagallatae and in the second stage a pulsating and rhythmical movement is observed unlike any of the phenomena of either plants or animals, but in the adult or mature stage the organisms settle down into forms which are not unlike some of the higher fungi.

Mycetozoa are found on decaying wood and vegetable matter in moist places in all parts of the world from torrid to frigid zones and it is somewhat remarkable that no microscopic differences are noticed on the ornamentation of the spores, on design of the interior framework of the capsule in species grown in extremes of latitude and temperature.

Of their distribution in time whatever is known. Their particles are so small and delicate that it is no wonder they have never been traced or have left their memorials in the rocks for the investigation of the geologist.

The adult stage of a Mycetozoon is usually a minute capsule about the size of a small mustard seed either stalked or sessile, containing the spores intermixed with which are threads of a more or less elastic character which strengthen the capsule and facilitate in the dispersion of the spores.

On maturity the phorangium, as the capsule is called, bursts an disperses the spores which after a few hours in moisture break open and liberate from each an amoeba-like body soon acquiring a phagellum with which it propels itself through the water with a waltzing movement, taking up for its sustenance bacteria and the products of decomposition by means of pseudopodia as the prolongations of its substance are called.

After a while, it becomes quiescent and divides into two and this process of bipartition continues for some days, then these particles, which are apparently only specs of jelly, unite into a slimy mass and spread over the decaying wood for several inches, known as the plasmodium stage.

As this plasmodium increases, by the absorption of nutrient matter, a remarkable network of veins dispeen to form in which a circulation of liquids takes place, flowing for about ninety seconds outward, then a few seconds pause, and then a flow inward for about sixty seconds. This rhythmic flow has the effect of bringing nourishing material to all parts of the plasmodium and causing it to be continually creeping forward in search of food.

The colour of the plasmodium is often brilliant, although white and yellow are most prevalent, some are pink, crimson, violet, green and various intermediate shades.

When, in this stage, if overtaken by drought or unfavourable weather, it passes into a dormant state and dries up into a horny substance called a sclerotium, and so remains until moisture or favourable weather arrives, when it again proceeds on its glowing movement.
It may continue on this jelly-like condition for days or months, but when it has ingested sufficient food material, it creeps into small semiglobular particles, a stalk is formed, and the pantile of slimy mass rises to the top in little pinhead like bodies. Then the interior is changed into a framework called the capillitium, and lastly the spores are formed for producing the next generation.
The capillitium, when examined under the microscope, is very beautiful and varied in structure. The spores also are ornamented with external sculpture, almost rivaling the diatoms in beauty. The capillitium differs in different genera, and classification is often based on this structure.

The lecturer, by means of diagrams, gave examples of some of the various forms of capillitia and spore ornamentation, – also some of the leading features of classification.

A collection of mounted specimens and active plasmodia were on view and a number of objects shown under microscopes brought by some of the members.

The total number of known Mycetozoa in the world is about 320 species, of which about 180 are British.

Mr. Cheesman, in conclusion said there was very little to record about their economic importance ad not a single species could add to the welfare or injury of mankind in any way, yet the study of the life-history of these plant-animals was so fascinating, and the spore sculpture and capillitium designs, as revealed by the microscope, so beautiful, that he was led to assent that the Mycetozoa often charms to the naturalist unsurpassed by any other group of organisms.”