16 Prof. F. Schmitz on the 
filament shoot forth from the conjugation-cell and become 
developed in the manner above described. In detail this 
conjugation of the growing ovicell with neighbouring cells 
rich in contents (auxiliary cells, as they may be called in the 
sequel) takes place in very different ways according to the 
species. In general, however, the only object of this borrowing 
from neighbouring cells rich in contents in connexion with 
the development of the ooblastema-filament is evidently to 
strengthen the latter, which originates from the very small 
fertilized ovicell, and enable it to develop more luxuriantly. 
3. Cryptonemiece and Squamariee. 
In some of the last-mentioned forms, as stated, the cells of 
the creeping spore-producing filaments enter into close con- 
nexion with the cells of the central axis or of its enveloping 
tissue by the formation of pits, evidently for the facilitation of 
nutrition. This goes still further in a series of other forms 
which follow these most closely (Dudresnaya, Polyides, Du- 
montia, Calostphonia, Gleosiphonia*, Petrocelis, Cruriopsis, 
and other Squamariea). 
In these one or several ooblastema-filaments shoot forth 
from the fertilized ovicell, and these either become immedi- 
ately diffused in the surrounding thallus-tissue (Dumontia, 
Gleosiphonia, fig. 10, Calosiphonia, fig. 23), or first of all 
become connected by pit-formation with neighbouring auxiliary 
cells (generally cells of the carpogonial branch itself), and 
then grow further (Petrocelis Ruprechti, Hauck), or, lastly, 
enter into a conjugation with these auxiliary cells, when the 
ooblastema-threads issue from the conjugation-cell singly or in 
plurality (Dudresnaya, fig. 17, Polyides). In all cases, how- 
ever, the ooblastema-threads, branching abundantly, creep 
about as thin long-jointed cell-filaments in the interior of the 
thallus-tissue. 
While thus creeping about the apices of these cell-filaments 
attach themselves to certain cells rich in contents, which are 
developed in greater or less number in the vicinity of the 
carpogonial branches within the branch of the thallus. Some- 
times these cells are simple joint-cells of the ordinary sterile 
branches of the thallus-filaments, scarcely distinguished by 
their size from the other cells of the filament (Calosiphonia) ; 
* Berthold has also observed processes similar to those occurring in the 
above-mentioned genera in other Cryptonemiacez (species of Halymenia, 
Nemastoma, and Grateloupia), but has hitherto published no detailed 
account of them (see Falkenberg, in Schenk’s ‘ Handbuch der Botanik,’ 
Ba. ii. p. 184). My own attention was called by Berthold to the occur- 
rence of such processes in Calostphonia. 
