178 LAKES AND RIVERS, 



of oleaginous grains, yellow and shining ; during this 

 time the swelling sphere is separated and closes up. 

 Afterwards the egg becomes more consolidated. 



"Immediately underneath it there is a place in which 

 the plasma in small grains, irregular and confused, 

 presents a different aspect, and in fact shows a spore 

 in course of formation. Its length is now from four 

 to six times its breadth. It is not dilated, and is in 

 fact but a continuation of the filament which sup- 

 ports it. A prolongation of the filament only can be 

 seen directed towards the egg, as if the axis grew 

 laterally, but the development goes no farther, and 

 this part is isolated by closing itself where it adheres 

 to the filament ; it thus presents all the characteristics 

 of a little sphere. It is the anther idie. Like the 

 egg (oogone) it is always of the same form. There- 

 fore the eggs of M. sphczrica are spherical, and fur- 

 nished with a single anther situated below them in 

 the filament. They are generally solitary, and rarely 

 double. These organs are the same in all individuals. 

 But in the other species this is far from being the 

 case. The shape of the eggs is different, whether 

 they bear anthers (antheridie) or not, whether they are 

 grouped together or otherwise ; the grouping besides 

 is different. M. Cornu proposes to give them the 

 name of M. polymorphic*. 



"When the egg is isolated it is of an oval shape, 

 larger at the upper end and more pointed at the lower 

 end. When several eggs are fastened to one filament, 

 this shape is a little altered ; the lower has a sort of 

 side platform on which the nearest is leaning ; and so 

 on with the rest from one to another. Perhaps a 



