97 



of the gametophyte. These organs were not mature ; the adult size had not 

 been attained nor were the ventral canal cells cut off. 



A third kind of peculiarity was observed in two instances in which 

 three archegonia formed a group at the geometrical center of the endo- 

 sperm. There was no sheath layer between adjacent sides of their central 

 cells, but on all other sides they were surrounded by the typical jacket 

 layer. In one archegonium of this group a ventral canal cell was in 

 process of formation ; the other two were younger. No canal or opening 

 leading to the surface of the gametophyte could be made out, neither were 

 any necks distinguishable in connection with these nor with many other 

 cases mentioned in preceding paragraphs. 



A fourth peculiarity to be recorded is the premature arrival of the 

 end of the pollen tube at the archegonium. In two different cases out of 

 the material used the pollen tube had reached an archegonium in which 

 the ventral canal cell had not been formed, nor had these organs attained 

 their adult size. In one of these instances the tube had actually pene- 

 trated the archegonium. but had not discharged its contents. 



Of the number of ovules of Pinus austriaca in the collection from which 

 these anomalies were found, about one-tenth showed archegonia in either 

 end of the endosperm. A few anomalies similar to those were observed 

 in Pinus virginiana. In this paper the author has endeavored only to 

 record the facts as observed, reserving a discussion of their probable sig- 

 nificance until more data will have been collected. 



