170 FUNGI. 



the size of the zoospores of the same plant. These particles 

 become globose cells, grouped in the centre of the antheridium. 

 Afterwards the contents of these latter cells become divided 

 into numerous bacillary spermatozoids, which first break the 

 wall of their mother cell, and then issue from the antheridium. 

 These rod-like corpuscles, which resemble the spermatozoids in 

 Vaucheria, have their movements assisted by a long cilium. It 

 is presumable that here, as in the Alga3, the spermatozoids 

 introduce themselves into the cavity of the oogonium, and unite 

 with the gonospheres. 



Amongst obscure and doubtful bodies are those described 

 by Pringsheim, which have their origin in thick filaments or 

 tubes, similar to those which form the zoosporangia, and re- 

 present so many distinct little masses of plasma within an 

 homogeneous parietal ganglion. The contour of these plastic 

 masses is soon delineated in a more precise manner. We 

 see in their interior some homogeneous granules, which 

 are at first globose, then oval, and finally travel to the 

 enlarged and ampulla?form extremity of the generating tube. 

 There they become rounded or oval cells covered with cellu- 

 lose, and emit from their surface one or several cylindrical 

 processes, which elongate towards the wall of the conceptacle, 

 and pierce it, without, however, ever projecting very far beyond 

 it. At the same time the lacunose protoplasm of each cell 

 becomes divided into a number of corpuscles, which escape by 

 the open extremity of the cylindrical neck. They resemble in 

 their organization and agility the spermatozoids of Aclilya dioica. 

 They soon become motionless in water, and do not germinate. 

 During the development of these organs, the protoplasm of the 

 utricle which contains them offers at first completely normal 

 characteristics, and disappears entirely by degrees as they 

 increase. De Bary and Pringsheim believe that these organs 

 constitute the antheridia of the species of Saprolegnia to which 

 they belong. 



The oospores of the Saprolegnia, when arrived at maturity, 

 possess a tolerably thick double integument, consisting of an 

 epispore and an endospore. After a considerable time of repose 



