3^ The Irish Naturalist. [February, 



duces its zoospores sparingly, while giving a far more 

 abundant crop of sexual fruit than any other species of the 

 Saprolegniaceae with which I am acquainted, it is probable 

 that he had another species under observation (see page 82). 



In this description Fischer also refers to the zoosporangia 

 as " terminal," which, when compared with the enlarged 

 globular extremities of other genera, is at least misleading, as 

 the zoosporangium is filamentous, and filled with spores for 

 practically its entire length. The shape of the zoospore 

 before liberation is also not mentioned ; it is short sausage- 

 shaped, as in L. bandoniensis. 



On page 315 he mentions of the diplanetic zoospores of 

 Saprolegnia and Leptolcgnia, " sie treten fertig aus dem Spo- 

 rangium hervor, zerstreuen sich sofort," etc. This is correct 

 only as it refers to Saprolegnia; in Leptolegnia the zoospores are 

 discharged as above mentioned, sausage-shaped and almost 

 devoid of movement. They take at least half-a-minute before 

 assuming ovoid-swarmer form, their movement at first quite 

 languid, increasing in activit}^ as their metamorphosis goes 

 on. 



LBPTOI.EGNIA BANDONIENSIS, Sp. nOV. 



I have called this species L. bando7iie7isis^ as the morpho- 

 logical peculiarities on which its identity is based are likely 

 to be repeated in other species yet to be found ; the particulars 

 of its life-history — as far as I have been able to observe them — 

 are as follows : — 



Early vegetation as in Saprolegjiia. Dense masses of fila- 

 ments radiate in every direction from the solid nutrient 

 substance on which the cultivation is made. The filaments 

 are sinuous and not much branched ; a slightly rounded 

 enlargement is noticeable at their extremities. The}" measure 

 about 12/j. to 14JU. in diameter, and attain in ordinary 

 room temperature a maxininin length of 5 mm., say J-inch, 

 in about four dij^s. At this time no sign of sporangial fruit 

 is observable, but branches spring out from the filaments, 

 on which terminal oogonia are produced of globular shape ; 

 these branches are unusually long and robust. Antheridial 

 branches arise from neighbouring filaments. They are stout 

 and dark, attaching themselves to the oogonia, sometimes 

 singly, but more frequently two or three to each, and are 



