2J2 Wager.—On the Fertilization 
During the nuclear division the cytoplasm of the oosphere 
undergoes changes. The larger vacuoles disappear and smaller 
ones take their place ; the central cytoplasmic mass becomes 
vacuolate; and, finally, the whole of the protoplasm of the 
oosphere exhibits a distinct foam-structure due to the large 
number of small vacuoles which now take the place of the 
larger ones, of which none, or only one or two, may remain 
(Figs. 5, 6, 7). 
As this vacuolization is taking place a central homogeneous 
body makes its appearance (Figs. 2-7). This appears to be 
formed by the gradual condensation of a mass of granular 
cytoplasm in the centre or near the centre of the oosphere 
(Figs. 2, 3); and when it is completely formed it stains more 
deeply than the surrounding cytoplasm (Figs. 4, 5, 6). This 
structure has been known for some time, but it was first 
correctly described and its probable function indicated in my 
paper on C. candidus 1 . It was, as I have previously pointed 
out, probably this structure which was described by Dangeard 2 
as an oil drop and by other observers as a nucleus. Swingle 
confirms my description of it, and suggests that it is a new 
organ or organoid of the cell 3 . In my original description 
of it I pointed out that shortly after its appearance one of 
the nuclei produced by division in the oogonium comes into 
close contact with it and gradually becomes more or less 
embedded in it; the fertilizing tube also grows directly 
towards and comes into contact with it. This indicates that 
it may in some way or other exert an attraction first upon 
the female nucleus, and secondly upon the fertilizing tube, 
thus helping to bring the sexual nuclei together. Stevens, 
who finds a similar structure in C. Bliti, C. Tragopogonis, and 
C. Portulacae, believes that we have here an organ of the 
oosphere which may be of the nature of a dynamic centre. 
He proposes to call it a coenocentrum. As I pointed out, 
however, in C. candidus, and as Stevens shows in C. Bliti, it 
is not a permanent organ of the cell. It disappears in C. can- 
1 loc. cit. 2 loc. cit. 
3 Two new Organs of the Plant Cell. See Bot. Gazette, 1898, p. no. 
