134 MR. HENFREY ON THE DEVELOPMENT 
simple structure described by Suminski and Wigand, consisting of a simple cell; this 
statement is quite contrary to my observations; I frequently examined antheridia in all 
stages in such prothallia, and they differed from the normal form only, in certain cases, 
by being supported on elongated pedicels produced by an unusual growth of their basal 
cells (fig. 50). With regard to the mode of development of the sperm-cells, Hofmeister de- 
scribes, as I have done, the gradual subdivision of the mucilaginous contents of the parent- 
cell into numerous cubical portions, each of which becomes clothed with a membrane and 
produces a spermatozoid within it. His description of the spermatozoids differs but little 
_ from mine; he asserts, however, the regular existence of a long and very slender hair-like 
process at the hinder extremity, which I have only seen an indication of in one case. 
In his account of the development of the archegonium he differs considerably both from 
Mettenius and myself, although the final results are the same. According to him, the 
papillar process is formed before the basal cavity (the embryo-sac), by the growth out- 
wards and subdivision of one of the superficial cells of the cushion-like thickening of the 
prothallium. He describes the formation of the archegonium in the following manner: 
the superficial cell which gives origin to it becomes divided by an oblique wall into an 
upper and a lower cell, the upper and larger is again divided by an oblique wall inclined 
in the opposite direction, and this is repeated five or six times; this would result in the 
formation of a papilla composed of two parallel rows of cells slightly overlapping alter- 
nately as they rise; but as they are developed each is divided into two by a perpendicular 
radial wall, so that the papilla consists of four conjoined vertical piles of cells. In the 
next place, either all or only the lowest of the cells of one of the vertical rows become 
divided into two by a tangental wall; so that, in the first case, a central row of cells is _ 
formed, running up the centre, or, in the second case, the extra cell is only formed at the 
bottom. This lowest cell, which is the embryo-sac, becomes enlarged rapidly ; the cells of 
the prothallium immediately surrounding it become divided by septa so as to form a kind 
of epithelial layer around it. During this growth the canal is formed up the centre of 
the papilla, when the fifth row of cells exists by the solution of all butthe bottom one, and 
when this extra cell is formed only at the bottom, by the separation of the contiguous 
Pen a of = four rows, so as to form an intercellular passage. The greater part of 
monet ntn = ergo no further development after this canal opens at the apex, but the 
hembrane bounding the canal and the cavity formed by the basal cell become coloured 
rich brown. 1 
erh = nb eng of the development of the archegonium, I believe it to 
ing in respect to the peiie i en -— <a ng Aii —— 
canal open. But the mode of ore, of Q.V Calls, subsequently dissolved to leave the 
| : of Pa ar cell or embryo-sac is certainly contrary 
: ore the papilla had be to be developed, and 
surrounded at this early epoch by the so-called * epithelial ’ irer (le 54-57), nr 
