V 
Reproduction of Cys topics Candidas , Ldv. 329 
required before a perfectly satisfactory explanation can be 
obtained. 
Formation of Oil-drops. 
Dangeard’s observations (’ 90 ) are interesting and his figures 
of the appearances presented are correct as far as they go, 
but his interpretation is wrong. The central mass in his 
figures 6, 7, 8 is not an oil-globule, but the central, deeply 
stained, very dense mass of protoplasm already mentioned, 
containing a nucleus. The globules of oil at these stages are 
very numerous. In his figures 9, 10, 11, the central mass is 
undoubtedly oil. It is a pity that Dangeard took oospores at 
such very different stages to illustrate his general observations 
on the formation of oil. If he had carefully followed the 
gradual development of oil-drops, he would not probably 
have made the mistake of regarding the large central body 
found in the early stages of the development of the oospore 
as an oil-globule. 
In sections cut from fresh specimens and from specimens 
soaked in corrosive sublimate and preserved in methylated 
spirit, small oil-drops in considerable numbers are to be seen 
soon after the separation of the oosphere from the periplasm. 
When the oosphere-wall has been distinctly formed, the oil- 
drops are very distinct. 
These oil-drops gradually fuse together, and at certain stages 
one large oil-drop with a number of small ones is to be seen. 
In others, there are two large oil-drops and many small ones. 
The oil-drops are in cavities or vacuoles in the protoplasm 
and are much smaller than the vacuoles when they are of 
considerable size. This is due probably either to the con- 
traction of the oil-drops or to the loss of a certain quantity 
of oil through soaking in spirit. The drops are coloured 
yellowish or blackish-brown in osmic acid solution. 
All the oil-drops gradually fuse together into a somewhat 
irregular lumpy mass, and finally into the large central oil- 
sphere of the ripe oospore. At this stage, the large drop 
appears dense black after staining in osmic acid for some time. 
z 2 
