9 
of Marattia Douglasii, Baker. 
primary cells of the cover-cell of the neck, by further divisions, 
have arisen the four series of cells that form the neck in these 
forms. It is probable that this increase in length is in some 
way connected with the fertilization, as is the backward 
curvature of the neck in the more specialized leptosporangiate 
forms. 
Fertilization. 
The entrance of the spermatozoids into the archegonium 
was not seen, but in a number of cases the material used had 
been killed immediately after, as several times the spermatozoid 
was found within the egg. The mature egg was in most cases 
somewhat contracted during the process of imbedding, but in 
a few cases (see Fig. 18) it retained its normal form. It was 
then seen to be slightly elliptical, the upper third being nearly 
homogeneous and quite colorless, forming the receptive spot. 
The nucleus is of moderate size, and not rich in chromatin ; 
a small but distinct nucleolus is present. In two cases the 
spermatozoid, quite unchanged, was seen within the recently 
fertilized egg. In both cases the spermatozoid was strongly 
stained and was extremely conspicuous in the protoplasm 
of the egg, which was only slightly granular and entirely 
colourless. In both of these, the spermatozoid had penetrated 
the egg completely, and its pointed end was in direct contact 
with the membrane of the egg-nucleus. In what seemed 
a later stage (Fig. 20), two nuclei in close contact were seen, 
but the female nucleus seemed much contracted : whether this 
was the normal condition previous to the fusion of the nuclei 
I cannot say, as no others were found in this condition. In 
a still older one (Fig. 21), where the membrane of the fertilized 
egg was very evident, and several spermatozoids were noticed 
about it, the nucleus showed two nucleoli, and a quite distinct 
division line, showing that the identity of the two conjugating 
nuclei had not been lost. 
The material at my command was not sufficiently abundant 
to warrant any attempt to follow out completely the process 
of fertilization, but from the few preparations where the 
