THE CROSSING OF FERNS. 



343 



reproduction of ferns was the same as in higher forms of 

 life* It was they who showed that it was in the prothallus 

 st.ago that the fern practically flowered — that on the prc- 

 thallus wore developed the male and female organs (the 

 antberidia and archogonia) corresponding with the stamens 

 and i)istils of flowers, and that under certain favourable con- 

 junctions of heat and moisture the anthorozoids (corresponding 

 with the pollen of flowers) were detached, and not only so, 

 but were endowed with motion resembling rather the con- 

 sciousness of animal than the impassivoness of vegetable life, 

 and that thus fertilization was ensured (one archegonium 

 only, I believe, being fertilized in each case, and one fern 

 only produced from any prothallus) ; and aa each prothallus 

 contained ail that was necessary for the reproduction of the 

 plant, it was not suspected that anthorozoids could have 

 power of action beyond the sphere of tlieir own prothallus, 

 and it is sufficiently evident that, unless tliey had that power, 

 ferns could not cross. 



I have not a word to say against anthorozoids generally— 

 they are, I believe, as a rule, a very steady, stay-at-home 

 race of little zoids ; but there are exceptions — occasionally 

 there are some that sliow a vagrant tendency— hence the 

 results that we have to chronicle. 



Concurrently witli, but independently of, the researches 

 of Hoifmeistor and others- independently also of each other 



• Since writing this, 1 have l)eou favoured by Dr. Maslers with tlie 



following note : — 



" Antheriilia and anthorozoids were discovered by Naogeli in 1814 ; 

 the archegonia by Suminski in 181fi, wbo also witnessed tho entry of the 

 spormatozoids into tho archegonium. Bernhardi, according to a state- 

 ment of Kegel in tlie llotanischc Zeilung, 1813, was the first to announce 

 the production of hybrid ferns. Eogel's observations are noted by tho 

 Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in the Gardcncra' Chronicle for July 27, 1844, where 

 also tho remarks of the late Mr. Henderson ou the subject are given." 



