Observations on Saprolegniem. 27 



great variation in the form of the sporangia have just been 

 made. In August, 1878, a triton was so injured in being caught 

 that a portion of the liver passed out from the body cavity 

 and hung from the side of the abdomen. In this condition it 

 was placed in a jar with some small fishes and allowed to re- 

 main. Observations made a few days later showed the appear- 

 ance of filaments from the injured portion, and in two days 

 later fruit was produced. 



The sporangia and zoospores had the characters of the 

 genus Saprolegnia ; but differed from those already described, 

 in forming the new sporangium to one side of the old — the 

 filament elongating only sufficiently for the formation of the 

 sporangium ; about thirty hours later, other specimens were 

 carefully removed and examined. The filaments had elongated 

 to varying lengths beyond the old sacs and formed sporangia 

 (PI. v., Fig. 2), very similar to those which characterize the 

 germs Victynchus, Leitgeb. The zoospores, instead of raising 

 out through an opening in the apex of the sporangium, burst 

 through the side, leaving behind a clear membrane of its 

 former size and shape. In the genus Dicfvfic/ins, the sporangium 

 emptied of zoospores appears as if divided into many angular 

 transparent cells, while in the form noted the old spore case 

 remained rounded. Fig. 2, PI. v., represents a filament bear- 

 ing three of these sporangia, the lower one yet containing the 

 zoospores. The sporangia varied from .04 mm. to .41 mm. 

 in length, and in some cases the branches contained but a single 

 row of zoospores. 



August 30th, four days after the first triton was caught, 

 another was taken and an incision carefully made in the side 

 of the abdomen, allowing a portion of the intestines and liver 

 to pass out uninjured. It was placed in a jar of water, which 

 was kept changed by means of a siphon, and sown with spores 

 from the first specimen. At 10 o'clock, Aug. 31st, the intestine 

 had a delicate velvety appearance, caused by a very dense 

 growth of filaments about .5 m m. long ; at 4 o'clock p. M., the 

 filaments were 2 mm. long, unbranched and bore no traces of 

 sporangia. Sep. ist, 10 o'clock, an occasional ripe sporangia was 

 found, and Sep, 2d, 10 a. m., many ; here also the new sporan- 

 gium was formed on the filament to one side of the old ; later 

 observations showed that none of the Dictyo-sporangia were 

 produced ; the late sporangia, one or more formed on the same 



