'F'liK Mk-koscoi'k. 105 



111 the fructification of" the Gymnogramma chrysoph'dla there 

 care exhibited some striking perculiarities. There are two forms 

 -of sporangia, and two sorts of spores. One variety of the former 

 is nearly or ijiuite circular, the other somewhat ovoid in outline. 

 A casual examination of a circular sporangium (taken from a 

 frond and in water) with the microscope and an amplification of 

 from one hundred to two hundred diameters; will give a picture 

 of an ordinary spore-case surrounded by its annulus, and con- 

 taining relatively few spore grains. A more careful examination, 

 and an amplilication of five hundred and upwards will reveal 

 in what before appeared as spore-grains an aggregation of minute 

 particles, sim])ly massed together, and apparently unrestrained 

 by so much as the thinnest envelope. 



In the same spore case will also be seen great numbers of 

 elongated, slender, rod-like bodies. I have never found the 

 ■ other variety of spore-case with walls sufficiently transparent to 

 permit the examination of their contents when entire. In rup- 

 tured cases, there may be seen the same form of rod-like bodies 

 as were found in the round cases — but no granular masses. 



For a still more critical analysis, remove a few of the sporangia 

 from a recent frond and place them on a glass slip in a few drops 

 ■of water. If necessary break up with dissecting needles a few 

 cases to release the contents, and apply a thin cover-glass. Ex- 

 - amine with a good lens having a power of not less than five 

 hundred diameters. If the preparation is a fairly good one, 

 there will be seen vast numbers of rod shaped bodies, both 

 straight and curved, and also small more or less spherical masses, 

 readily suggesting the names bacilli and micrococci. In from 

 one half to one hour's time after the specimen is placed in the 

 water on the slip, there is usually seen a distinct swaying to and 

 fro of the rod shaped bodies — freciuently also a slowly progres- 

 sive and retrograde motion of the rod. If a collection of the 

 before mentioned granular matter be now examined, it will pre- 

 sent the appearance of a great number of living organisms 

 massed together and struggling with one another to get free. 

 While one is looking, perhaps a representative little unit will 

 etlect its emancipation, and immediately enter upon a free and 

 independent state of existence. Comparing the motions of the 

 rods and granules, the former is relatively ])assive, the latter 

 very active. The sole object and aim of the active little spherule 



