AND THEIR INHABITANTS. 179 



dozen may be thus placed on one another, sometimes 

 in groups, sometimes singly. 



" The form of the anthers also differs. Sometimes, 

 as in M. n sphcerica, they support the egg, at others 

 they separate from the lower part of the egg, or are 

 situated over it. Sometimes these layers are mingled. 

 Several anthers may be placed in a row like the spores 

 which they resemble, except in shape. Several of 

 them may be on one egg, and a group of eggs on the 

 other hand may be entirely without anthers. In this 

 case they are generally situated at the end of the 

 filaments. They would be confused with the spore 

 were it not for the diversity of shape, and above all 

 by the presence of a great number of them on the 

 eggs themselves, or very near them. The difference 

 between the two species is well characterized by the 

 appearance of the young eggs, but the difference is 

 much greater during and after fecundation. 



"When the fecundation is about to be accomplished, 

 a change appears in the egg. The upper part is 

 formed at first into a point, which afterwards opens, 

 and the oleaginous globules in motion, first towards 

 the opening and afterwards descending, meet the 

 ascending antherozoids, which, breaking the plasma, 

 ascend laterally. The fecundation takes place by the 

 fusion of the elements of the gonosphore with those 

 of the antherozoid after the latter has penetrated into 

 the interior of the egg. Each antherozoid as it 

 escapes through the plasma touches the (pogone) or 

 egg. If it fails to do this, it escapes into the liquid 

 like pure water, which is above or under the globules. 

 If it touches the egg, it adheres to its surface. The 



N 2 



