: MYXOMYCETES with the Order Acrasiales, Plasmodio phorales and Myxogastrales ; and SCHIZOMYCETES with the Orders Eubacteriales and Myxobacteriales. * There still remains the systematic position of the Lichens. Since the coordination of the orders of the entire phylum Thal lophyta is far from being settled owing to the limitations of our knowledge, and since the two main series, separated from each other by physiological rather than structural or morphological char acters, are held apart largely as a matter of convenience, it may be better to likewise hold the lichens apart as a separate group, though the reasons therefor are much less apparent than in the separation of the algae and the fungi. The lichens are distinc tively fungi and there is no more real reason for holding them apart from the fungous orders with which they intergrade than there would be in separating other parasitic forms in distinct series because of some supposed mutualism between the parasite and its host. The fact that the lichens have been treated apart from
their real alliances has doubtless been the cause of some part of the confusion relating to them. The orders Pyrenolichenales, Discolichenales, Hymenolichenales and Gastrolichenales may therefore be sandwiched in among their nearest alliances in the conspectus. If held apart in a distinct series it must be under stood as a matter of expediency and convenience and not an indi cation of natural affinity among diverse groups such as they really are.