EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON GERM CELLS OF FUNDULUS. 383 



history. The important and delicate processes of maturation 

 are in progress preparatory to fertilization. The character of 

 its protective membranes has not yet been strengthened by the 

 formation of the fertilization membrane. So, it might well be 

 expected that profound effects may be produced at this time 

 by what under other conditions would be considered slight cause. 

 This seems to be quite clearly the case in the treatment of the 

 eggs of Fundulus prior to fertilization. 



(&) Effects of Delayed Fertilization on Control Eggs. Upon 

 examining the data given in the accompanying table (see Table I.) 

 one might easily be led from the record of the control into the 

 error that the eggs dealt with were a poor lot. The only indica- 

 tion of this is in the very much lowered percentage of fertiliza- 

 tions; for the number of sub-normal individuals, except in few 

 instances, is slight. It seems clear, therefore, that if the eggs 

 of Fundulus are allowed to stand for some twenty to thirty 

 minutes before fertilization, because of the closure of the micro- 

 pyle, or for some other reason, a number do not fertilize. These 

 same eggs fertilized as soon as stripped give some seventy-five 

 to ninety per cent, of fertilizations. The fact that the controls 

 were fertilized at the same time as the treated lots serves, how- 

 ever, to place this factor upon the same basis in the comparison 

 of results. 



(c) Effects of Treatment on the Viability of Eggs. In the experi- 

 ments presented in Table I. and summarized in Table II., the 

 first four series were treated for fifteen minutes prior to fertiliza- 

 tion; the remainder were treated for twenty minutes. It will 

 be noted that no developing individuals were secured from the 

 eggs treated with strengths of alcohol higher than ten per cent., 

 and only one in treatments of this percentage. These higher 

 concentrations produced in many instances a shrinkage and 

 distortion of shape in the egg, and of course the highest grades 

 killed or fixed a number of the eggs. 



In the case of those treated with two per cent, and five per 

 cent, alcohol, the number of developing individuals is lowered 

 several hundred per cent, as compared with the controls. This 

 result is uniform throughout the whole series. In two instances, 

 no individuals developed in the treatments with five per cent, 

 alcohol. 



