Methods of Reproduction in the Saprolegniacece. 167 
FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF METHODS OF 
REPRODUCTION IN THE SAPROLEGNIACE/E, 
By A. Eckley Lechmere. 
[With Six Pages of Figures.] 
PART I. 
Introduction. 
AVING had occasion a short time ago to undertake an 
investigation of the life history of a species of Saprolegnia 
(II) from the point of view of observing any alterations produced by 
growth under various cultural conditions, I was naturally interested 
when an opportunity arose of comparing the results already 
published with those which might be obtained from the same species 
found in another locality. 
The present species is one of two species found in a sample of 
water collected from a pond in the Forest of St. Germain on the 
occasion of an excursion there for the purpose of collecting 
specimens of Algae and Fungi for the Museum. The specimens 
collected were brought back to the Laboratoire de Cryptogamie for 
investigation. 
In one sample of water, containing many Algae and Protozoa 
some very good examples of oocysts of some species of Saprolegnia 
were found. 
Many of the oocysts showed very clear cases of fecundation, 
the antheridial tubes being clearly seen penetrating the oocyst and 
terminating in connection with the oospheres. 
As there seemed to be a fair amount of the Saprolegnia present, 
I took the opportunity of again obtaining the species in pure culture. 
Method of Isolation and Culture. The isolation of the Sapro¬ 
legnia from the mixture of Algae was carried out by means of small 
pieces of coagulated albumen (white of egg) floated on the surface 
of the water contained in a glass vessel, in which had been placed a 
selected portion of the mixture of Algae and Saprolegnia containing 
as large a quantity as possible of Saprolegnia filaments. 
By this means, in the course of a few days, many of the pieces 
of egg showed a fringe of hyphae having the appearance typical of 
the Saprolegniaceae. Several cases were found showing formation 
of sporocysts, 
