1206 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences , Arts , and Letters. 
to enlarge (fig. 4), the cytoplasm becomes somewhat vacuolate, 
lines of streaming may be discerned and there occurs a marked 
increase in the number of nuclei. Although these stages have 
been studied with great care, it is not possible to say with cer¬ 
tainty that nuclear divisions take place. Certain suggestive 
conditions are found, as indicated in the accompanying figures 
(PI. II, figs. 9, 9 a, 96), but to any one who has attempted a 
study of the nuclei of these forms it will be evident why a final 
decision cannot be rendered. The nuclei are so small that only 
the most conspicuous changes are apparent. It seems highly 
probable that nuclear divisions do occur at this time, however, 
as the increase in the number of nuclei in the progametes is 
greater than can be readily explained through nuclear migration 
from adjacent parts. Furthermore, these peculiar nuclear condi¬ 
tions are apparent at only four stages: in the progametes; in the 
suspensors prior to formation of the appendages; in the young 
sporangiophores; and in the germinating spores. The accom¬ 
panying figures (9a, 96, 10a, 106) illustrate the appearance of 
the nuclei at this time. The resting nucleus is a small, dense, 
globular to ovoid body possessing a conspicuous, red-staining 
granule, probably the nucleolus. The chromatin consists of 
very small granules scattered through the nuclear cavity. The 
nuclear membrane is fairly well defined in most of the nuclei. 
At the time of these apparent divisions, there are present from 
one to three of these red-staining masses and some of the nuclei 
appear somewhat elongated. In what is evidently a polar view 
three of these red-staining bodies can be seen, one of which is 
usually slightly larger than the other two. In edge view, there 
are usually two of these bodies apparent, sometimes of equal 
size but often unequal. As far as it has been possible to de¬ 
termine, the larger of these three bodies is the nucleolus and 
the other two represent the chromatic masses. If they were 
all nucleoli they would be expected to be visible at other stages. 
Furthermore, the granular chromatin which is present in the 
resting nucleus is not found in the nuclei showing this condi¬ 
tion. This would suggest that it had become concentrated into 
these small, deep-staining masses. 
The tips of the gametophores remain in contact throughout, 
but as the gametophores increase in length they also increase in 
diameter and the portions back of the tip are gradually forced 
