150 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [SEPTEMBER 
ova of animals present no such peculiarity. If there is any 
character that defines the oosphere and ovum it appears tobe the 
presence in the cytoplasm of a single female nucleus that is nor 
mally fertilized by a single male nucleus. In Albugo Bliti Biv, 
however, the mature oosphere contains many female nuclei, aid 
fertilization is effected by the discharge of many male nuclei from 
the antheridial tube and their subsequent fusion with the female 
nuclei in pairs. An oospore results from this multiple sexta 
act with about one hundred fusion nuclei, which remain in the 
resting condition until germination. The existence of such cot 
ditions must be supported by strong evidence, and great cau 
should be exercised in interpreting the data upon which the 
conclusions are based. 
One is partially prepared, however, for the acceptance of such 
conditions as these by the thought that the form under conside 
ation isa coenocyte, and that comparatively little is known 
the behavior of the nuclei and cytoplasm in such structures , 
Excellent summaries of current knowledge are given by Hus 
phrey (’92), Zimmerman (96) ,and Wager (’96). It is os 
Sary, in view of the existence of these accounts, to enter eo 
details here. Suffice it to say that in several (Monoblepha 
dinacee, Entomophthoracez, and Chytridinez) of the gees 
coenocytic groups the behavior of the nuclei in fertilization” 
practically unknown. In those groups of which there is mF 
knowledge (Saprolegniacez, Peronosporee, Zygomycetess For | 
Siphonez) concordant results have not yet been attained ae 
example, in the Saprolegniacee the question is still in ; 
whether or not fertilization occurs (Hartog ’95, Trow 95): 
the Siphonez the two most comprehensive papers (Belint 
Oltmanns ’95) upon the one genus (Vaucheria) that 
investigated disagree essentially as to the events leading = 
development of the oosphere. The process of fertilizatio” 
cribed for the Zygomycetes by Léger (’95) involves the 
phenomenon of the fusion of nuclear complexes. 
The pioneer work on the histology of the Peronospor 
by Wager on Peronospora parasitica in 1890, was follow” 
