24 OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINl. 



form, the same size, and the same position * They have a 

 length of -5V n''i^^-> and are about rhr mm. in diameter ; and 

 they seem to be separated by a septum from the filaments 

 whence they proceed. The contents are mostly but httle 

 different from those of the mycelium, only the granules are 

 larger; and especially there are found here many of the 

 yellow or yellow-brown globular bodies, Avhich, besides, are 

 very large. However, there are often seen inthcoogonia a quite 

 clear, hollow space (vacuole) of varied form, and taking up 

 about the one half of the cavity of the cell. In the hollow 

 space is observed a nucleus-like body, or in its place are seen 

 several yellow-brown globules. In one oogonium Avas 

 found, in" place of the hollow space, a clear, yellow mucus ; 

 and here the yellow-brown globules lay between this and 

 the cell-membrane. 



From the base of the oogonium there proceeds at each side 

 a filiform antheridium-cell, which is very thin (only -i^- 

 .j J-^mm. in diameter), two or three times as long as the 

 oogonium, and usually gradually diminishing in thickness 

 towards the point; sometimes the antheridial cells are 

 furcately branched ; or only one of them is normally de- 

 veloped, whilst the other is either altogether wanting or is 

 very short. The contents are usually quite pellucid, more 

 rarely a few granules are present, but antherozoids are not 

 found here any more than in most other Fungi. As regards 

 the relation of the antheridial cells to the oogonia, they are 

 usually seen hanging freely at the side without coming in 

 contact with the latter. Only twee were the antheridial 

 cells seen in such a union with the oogonia as is ac- 

 customed to take place during fertilisation. In one of the 

 cases it was the antheridial cells belonging to the oogonium, 

 in another case it was an antheridial cell from another 

 oogonium which presented itself in this union. 



Amongst many antheridial cells an altogether peculiar 

 condition was observed but once, and there can hardly be 

 attributed to it therefore any special significance. This con- 

 sisted in the fact that three adjacent antheridial cells, placed 

 about the usual distance from one another, were mutually 

 united. 



Notwithstanding that thus we have only»imj)erfect observa- 

 tions with regard to the act of fertilisation itself, it yet does 

 not admit of the slightest doubt but that the organs just 

 described actually have the significancy which has been here 

 attributed to them, since they agree so exactly with the 

 r gans of fertilisation in other Fungi (for instance, in 

 * Once were seeu two oogonia proceeding from the same place. 



