In several species of _Dermatea_ the stylospores and spermatia co-exist, but they are disseminated before the appearance of the ascigerous receptacles, yet they are produced upon a common stroma not unlike that of _Tubercularia_. In its early stage the common and well-known _Bulgaria inquinans_, which when mature looks like a black _Peziza_, is a little tubercle, the whole mass of which is divided into ramified lobes, the extremities of which become, towards the surface of the tubercle, receptacles from whence escape waves of spermatia which are colourless, or stylospores mixed with them which are larger and nearly black. Amongst the _Sphæriacei_ numerous instances might be cited of minute stylosporous bodies in consort with, or preceding, the ascigerous receptacles. A very familiar example may be found at the base of old nettle stems in what has been named _Aposphæria acuta_, but which truly are only the stylospores of the _Sphæria coniformis_, the perithecia of which flourish in company or in close proximity to them. Most of these bodies are so minute, delicate, and hyaline that the difficulties in the way of tracing them in their relations to the bodies with which they are associated are very great. Nevertheless there is strong presumption in favour of regarding some of them as performing the functions which the name applied to them indicates. Professor de Bary cautiously refrains from accepting spermatia other than as doubtful or at least uncertain sexual bodies.[Q] He says that the Messrs. Tulasne have supposed that the spermogonia represented the male sex, and that the spermatia were analogous to spermatozoids. Their opinion depends on two plausible reasons,--the spermatia, in fact, do not germinate, and the development of the spermogonia generally precedes the appearance of the sporophorous organs, a double circumstance which reminds us of what is known of the spermatozoids and antheridia of other vegetables. It remained to discover which were the female organs which underwent fecundation from the spermatia. Many organs placed at first amongst spermatia have been recognized by M. Tulasne as being themselves susceptible of germination, and consequently ought to take their place among legitimate spores. Then it must be considered that very many spores can only germinate under certain conditions. It is, therefore, for the present a doubtful question whether there exist really any spermatia incapable of germination, or if the default of germination of these corpuscles does not rather depend on the experiments hitherto attempted not having included the conditions required by the phenomena. Moreover, as yet no trace has been discovered of the female organs which are specially fecundated by the spermatia.