ON THE SEXUALITY OF THE EUNGI. 301 



this diflPerence in size is absent, and there is absolutely 

 no safe criterion to determine which of the two conjugating 

 masses of protoplasm is to be regarded as male and which as 



female. 



Nevertheless, if we consider cases such as are afforded by 

 the Fungi, we are certainly on safe ground when we call the 

 antheridium of Pythium a male organ, and the oogonium of 

 the same a female organ. The protoplasm contained in the 

 former is itself incapable of further development, but normally 

 passes over into the protoplasm (oosphere) contained in the 

 latter ; the oosphere is then— i. e. after fertilization— capable 

 of further development. 



This " further development," however, is nothing more than 

 growth ; and, what is more, growth according to the same laws 

 as affected the parent plant which produced the sexual organs. 

 In cases where the plant is divided into cells, this growth or 

 germination of the oospore commences with division into a 

 number of cells. 



The outcome of all we know of these matters leads to the 

 conviction that we have in the germination or development of 

 an oospore— and the same is true for an egg, &c., the terms 

 being different— simply a renewal of the growth of the 

 organism ; and from this and other convictions follows the result 

 that the formation of an oosphere, although it may take place 

 after an accumulation of large quantities of food, implies a 

 condition of weariness— if the term may be allowed— on the 

 part of the protoplasm for the time being. No doubt the 

 molecular energy of the protoplasm forming the oosphere, is 

 less than that of the rest of the plant for the time being ; the 

 access of the antherozoid or male protoplasm, however, reinvi- 

 gorates the sluggish mass, and renewed life ensues. This may 

 require some time, however, and we may possibly not be far 

 wrong if we imagine that interval to be occupied in molecular 

 rearrangements in the mass. 



But, although we can sum up the foregoing by saying that, 

 after a time, protoplasm requires re-invigorating by the addi- 

 tion of fresh protoplasm from another source, it is extremely 



