Notes . 
568 
we observe any instances of degeneration of the nucleus in the antheridial cell. 
It is on cases such as these, and on the absence of observed cell-fusion, that 
Dangeard relies for his refutation of Harper’s statements. Furthermore, the row 
of cells produced from the egg (Fig. 17, 7) was generally found to consist of at 
least four cells ; the three or two cells of Dangeard were very rarely, if at all certainly, 
observed. Unless Dangeard's material showed a course of development very 
Fig. 17. x 1700. 
different from that observed by Harper and ourselves, we can only conclude, 
with Harper 1 , that the methods used by that worker were hardly adequate for 
the elucidation of the question at issue. 
The material used was fixed in Flemming’s weak fluid diluted with an equal 
volume of water, and cut 4-6 fx in thickness. The fixation was rather erratic, 
a certain number of the young stages and all the older perithecia being badly 
fixed — probably owing to the weakness of the fluid. 
1 Annals of Botany, xiv, 1900, p. 330. 
