The Germination of Fern Spores. 35 



matter partly by their species, and partly by the density or 

 sparsity of their growth. Very frequently, and especially 

 a*mongst others, in the cases of the golden fern (Gymnogramma 

 aurata), of Strathopea germanica, and the noble British fern, 

 Osmunda regalis, these vesicles will be found to be most con- 

 veniently and conspicuously placed upon the very edge of the 

 prothallia, and consequently in the best possible situation 

 for microscopic examination. These are the " antherozoidal 

 cells/'' and being as transparent nearly as glass, their contents 

 are perfectly revealed under a good microscope. Before they 

 are quite mature they will be seen to be filled with crowded 

 semi-transparent greenish granules, which become more and 

 more pellucid as they approach maturity, until at length they 

 are each seen to assume a distinct form, something like a 

 minute transparent spiral shell, and to each occupy a separate 

 cell within the common enclosing vesicle. 



If now, when thus mature — and the successive arrivals of the 

 prothallia to this stage extend over months, from one single 

 sowing, and from off the same piece of sandstone, so that sooner 

 or later <they cannot fail to be in the right condition ; if, when 

 thus mature, two or three of the prothallia are carefully 

 picked off the damp sandstone by means of a needle, and 

 immersed in a drop of water between two pieces of glass, the 

 little spiral shell-like bodies will in a very few minutes be seen 

 to start out, somewhat suddenly, from the extremity of their 

 enveloping antherozoidal vesicle ; and after lying quietly in the 

 water for one or two minutes will then unfold themselves, and 

 assuming a corkscrew sort of form will launch away into the 

 circumambient fluid, and wheel and sport about as merrily as a 

 swarm of gnats on a summer evening ! Anything more like 

 voluntary and vital action (animal vitality) it is impossible to 

 conceive ; and the analogy indeed which they bear, there can 

 be little doubt, to certain phenomena in the animal economy, 

 will strike every microscopic anatomist, and may well excite our 

 admiration of that harmony of design, and unity of purpose, 

 manifested throughout nature by the great Author of all 

 things. For other marvels yet remain to be told respecting 

 these antherozoids. Some one or other of these erratic atoms 

 meet with another cellular organ, called the archegonium, 

 either on their own or some • neighbouring prothallium ; and, 

 according to the testimony of Sumniski and Mercklin, as quoted 

 by Mr. Dawson, and of Hofmeister, as quoted by Dr. Carpenter 

 (see The Microscope and its Revelations, page 404, ed. 1856), 

 they have been seen to descend down a narrow orifice in 

 the same, until reaching what is believed to be the germinal- 

 cell at the bottom of the archegonial shaft, they fertilize the 

 cell; in like manner as the pollen from the anther of a flower 



