455 
in the Saprolegnieae . 
To these examples we may add the fusion of the sister- 
nucleus of the oosphere with one of the basal group in the 
embryo-sac of Phanerogams when it is in an apocytial condi- 
tion, and the fusion in the apocytial Heliozoan Actinosphae- 
rium of the nuclei, several together, into a much reduced 
number, as observed by Brauer ; and as an intermediate case 
the formation of the gameto-nucleus of the oosphere in 
Sphaeroplea , which, according to Rauwenhoffs description, 
resembles the process as e seen in the formation of the 
oospheres of Saprolegnia ’ (’91, p. 19 ). All of these (save 
Actinosphaerium and Artemia) were cited in my ’95 paper, 
or in the ’91 ‘ Problems of Reproduction,’ to which I referred, 
and which contains the full statement of my views on these 
subjects. Yet Professor Trow writes, without taking any 
account of these facts — ‘ The question of wholesale nuclear 
fusions is one which we expect to see proved conclusively by 
actual demonstration. It is so improbable in itself, at any 
stage in the life-history of a plant, that we may be pardoned, 
in the absence of such demonstration, for unbounded scepti- 
cism as to its occurrence. . . . But Hartog’s theory, even as 
a theory, has an unsound foundation. Consider what it 
means. The nuclei in question, surrounded by their proto- 
plasmic masses — energids, let us say — are female gametes, and 
very highly developed ones too’ (’99, p. 165 ). Yet I think 
there can hardly be greater general unanimity on any matter 
connected with the history of reproduction, than as to the 
view that regards the conjugating nuclei as equivalent nuclei, 
and free as far as possible from the taint of binary sexual 
differentiation which is an adaptation of the cytoplasm only. 
A point on which Weismann, O. Hertwig, and Maupas are 
agreed is surely worth taking into account. 
He proceeds : ‘ The theory, then, is that of the multiple 
endogamous union of highly developed female gametes in 
plants where very dissimilar male gametes are well known. 
Imagine a botanist broaching as a theory the multiple union 
of F ncus eggs to form a zygote, and the universal incredulity 
with which it would be justly met, and we have some idea of 
H h % 
