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164 DEVELOPMENT OF THE OVULUM 
lax, and, not unfrequently, present the appearance of a termi- 
nal, or the central largish one, surrounded by a ring of others 
somewhat smaller at its base. 
But after the tubes are discoverable with facility in the 
cavity of the ovary, the appearance is different, for these cells 
are generally no longer visible, the apex of the nucleus now 
presents an irregular membranous tube, which is applied 
firmly to the apex of the nucleus, but does not appear to 
penetrate into its substance. This tube is the termination of 
the boyaux ; of this the proofs are, first, its being not closed at 
its apex ; secondly, its obvious continuation with the tubes that 
enter the ovary ; third, its not being present before the tube 
has passed both foramina. 
I consider it is settled that the apiculus of the nucleus of 
Gossypium is due to the adhesion of the apex of the boyaux. 
I have seen one or two instances in which the boyaux had 
reached the opening through the secundine, without passing 
it. Inthese, the nucleary apex was simply, loosely cellular. 
Some uncertainty in sceptical minds will always attach to 
those cases in which the actual demonstration of the continu- 
ation of the nucleary tube, with the actual boyaux, has not been 
effected. And this in many cases is impossible owing chiefly 
` to the readiness with which the style separates, about, or to 
wards its base, as soon as the required passage down of the boy- 
aux has been effected. Of such Gossypium is an instance. 
Were other proofs required, a strong one might be men- 
tioned in the fact that in Cucurbitacez, in which the tube is 
actually nucleary, its evolution always takes place at a period 
somewhat antecedent to fecundation. 
GossyPIUM,—PLATE Lr.—Fic. 1. 
1. Transverse section of apex of ovary. 
a. a. Glandular receptacles. 
. b. b. Lines indicating the union of the carpella, or in 
other words, the inflections of the carpellary leaves. 
c. €. €, The margins of these, forming here the continu- 
ation of the stigmatic tissue, and in the cavity of the 
ovary, the placenta. 
