NOTES ON VAUCHEKI A. 
105 
tification.” That is, in effect, the recognition of Vaucheria as uni- 
cellular. 
During the keen weather at the commencement of the present 
winter, Mr. Frederic Bates of Leicester collected some filaments 
of Vaucheria from under the ice, and upon submitting them to 
the microscope discovered that the main threads were much divided 
by septa. He sent me portions of these threads mounted, and as 
there was no positive evidence of the filaments belonging to 
Vaucheria , at once I was prompted to reject his conclusion, and 
affirm that some filaments of Cladophora must have been mixed 
with the Vaucheria , for not only were the threads distinctly septate, 
but there was an accumulation of plasma in the cells, and an ap- 
pearance as of differentiation. Subsequently, however, all doubts 
were removed, for I obtained a part of the gathering, and saw the 
oogonia and antheridia so characteristic of Vaucheria seated on 
filaments which, at a short distance, were septate in a similar 
manner to the previously examined thread. The whole gathering 
showed a great preponderance of septate filaments, divided com- 
pletely, and somewhat constricted at the joints, some of the cells 
being two, and others three times, or more the diameter, in length, 
filaments which did not bear oogonia, or only one or two, being 
most divided. Approaching the subject with a strong feeling 
adverse to the production of veritable septa, every precaution was 
taken, I think, to prevent any misinterpretation, and I was com- 
pelled against my first impression to accept the fact that the fila- 
ments of this undoubted Vaucheria had become divided off into 
cells at the period of fructification. 
The appearance of these cells in some sense differed from con- 
tinuous threads, in that the plasma was collected towards one end, 
or the centre of the cells, and in many instances was dense, ap- 
parently mingled with oval bodies as if undergoing, or had under- 
gone, differentiation. It must be stated that the filaments were 
very much coated with small Diatomacece and other minute Algas, 
so that the view was obstructed. 
The question which at once suggested itself was — as to the object 
of this septation. And here it may be suggested that the single 
asexual zoospore, produced in small numbers, and the single 
oospore produced in the oogonium, always has appeared to be a very 
sparse provision for the reproduction of the species, as compared 
with the large number of zoogonidia which are produced in every 
fertile cell of Cladophora and Chcetomorpha. Even in the Botry- 
diacece the multiplex modes of reproduction are strongly in con- 
trast with what has been known as the reproductive process in 
Vaucheria. For these reasons there does not appear to be any 
improbability in the supposition that zoogonidia may be pro- 
duced in Vaucheria, in cells divided off for that purpose. The 
formation of the cells, the accumulation of the cytioplasm, 
acquiring density and, as I strongly believe, differentiation, lend 
strength to the probability that reproduction by zoogonidia may 
9 
