538 
The condition of things, however, in the 
ovule is very different from what itis in the 
anther, because early in the evolution of 
the spermaphytes the necessity for a defi- 
nite spore for distribution disappeared, as 
the ovule retained the gametophyte within 
its nucellar tissue. The time has been long 
enough for the complete elimination of the 
spore. But in the case of the anther or 
microsporangium, the process has perhaps 
only begun; or perhaps it would be better 
to say that the conditions are being ushered 
in, in some cases where pollinia are formed, 
which in time may result in the elimination 
of the microspore from some of these forms. 
In the elimination of the spore from the 
macrosporangium of the spermaphytes, they 
have arrived at a new morphological at- 
tainment, the development of the embryo- 
sac or gametophyte, directly from the arche- 
sporium or nucellus. The gametophyte of 
the angiosperms is very simple and rudi- 
mentary compared with that even of the 
gymnosperms, a few free cells, perhaps all 
of them potential eggs. Being free and few 
of them, they are in intimate relation with 
each other and are more subject to the sec- 
ondary influences of fertilization than the 
endosperm cells of gymnosperms are. 
Perhaps, for this reason, the angiosperms 
have arrived at a second and more remark- 
able morphological attainment, in the de- 
velopment of the second endosperm subse- 
quent to fertilization. The interpretation of 
this may lie partly in the results of ‘double 
fertilization,’ and related phenomena, when 
the second sperm sometimes unites with 
one of the potential eggs, or with the 
‘endosperm nucleus’ to form the second 
endosperm, or may possibly itself some- 
times form a separate endosperm. It is 
well known that in the pteridophytes and 
gymnosperms often several eggs are ferti- 
lized in one prothallium, and several em- 
bryos begin to develop. Finally one of 
them usually outstrips the others, which 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Von. XIII. No. 327. 
then atrophy. In the angiosperm embryo- 
sac the potential eggs are all free and so 
situated that they are immediately and pro- 
foundly influenced by fertilization of the 
‘privileged’ egg. 
The endosperm nucleus, or one of the 
other potential eggs, being fertilized by the 
second sperm, may be so immediately influ- 
enced that, instead of developing into an 
embryo which in ashort time would be out- 
grownand destroyed, it is directed into a new 
channel of development, which has resulted 
in the evolution of a new plant generation 
to be utilized as a nutrition body by the 
privileged embryo. If the secondary influ- 
ences of fertilization in angiosperms have 
acted somewhat in this way, it might ac- 
count not only for the retarded develop- 
ment of the so-called ‘endosperm’ in the 
angiosperms, but also for some of the phe- 
nomena known under the expression Xenia. 
* Guo. F. Arkinson. 
NATURAL HISTORY WORK AT THE MARINE 
BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY, WOOD'S HOLL. 
Narurat history has been a growing ele- 
ment in the work of the Biological Labora- 
tory at Wood’s Holl. All departments rep- 
resented at the Laboratory have made con- 
tributions in this field. Life histories have 
been studied principally in connection with 
embryological research, as, for example, in 
Conklin’s work on ‘ Crepidula,’ Lillie’s on 
‘Unio,’ Mead’s on ‘Annelids,’ Foot’s on 
“Allolobophora,’ Clapp’s on the ‘ Toad-fish,’ 
Patten’s on ‘ Limulus,’ Wheeler’s on ‘In- 
sects,’ Watasé’s on the ‘Fireflies,’ ete. 
Within the last few years natural history 
studies have acquired wider and more in- 
dependent interests with us. Animal be- 
havior has engaged the attention of a num- 
ber of investigators, led by Loeb, Wheeler, 
Thorndike and others. The demand for 
instruction followed the development of 
various lines of research, and the courses 
in general physiology and animal psy- 
