EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON GERM CELLS OF FUNDULUS. 399 



were nine aberrant cleavages which early disintegrated. Another 

 lot similarly treated showed even more decided effects; for of the 

 seven developing beyond the early cleavages, all were defective 

 at the end of the sixth day. 



These results seem to warrant the conclusion that a treatment 

 of this strength is injurious to the sperm as well as to the egg. This 

 is most clearly indicated in the instance where the spermatozoa 

 were treated for three minutes. 



(b) Effects of Fifteen Per Cent. Alcohol in Sea Water. -The 

 effects of this strength solution are not so marked either on the 

 eggs or on the sperm as was the solution used in the 

 experiments just discussed. In two instances there were no 

 sub-normal individuals developing from the lot of eggs treated 

 for five minutes prior to fertilization, though in most of the dishes 

 of eggs so treated, the percentage developing was considerably 

 below that of the control. The percentage sub-normal in Series 

 I. (Table VII.) as the result of treating the sperm for five minutes 

 is not very appreciably different from that in the control. 



There is, however, a larger percentage developing in this dish; 

 a fact which indicates a greater vigor on the part of the spermatozoa 

 of this male, as well as perhaps a stimulating effect on the part 

 of the alcohol. This is also shown by the accelerated cleavage 

 on the part of the eggs in this dish, the early cleavages having 

 occurred several minutes before those in the other dishes of the 

 series. 



In the second series (Table VII.) the treatment of the eggs 

 prior to fertilization shows a decided effect, thirty-five per cent, 

 developing sub-normally. The treatment of the sperm for one 

 minute seems in this series to have less effect than the treatment 

 of the eggs alone prior to fertilization. Out of the five developing 

 beyond the early cleavages from the fertilizations with the 

 spermatozoa treated for five minutes, two resulted in defective 

 embryos. 



In the other two series with this strength, the longer treatment 

 seems to have a selective action on the sperm, a much smaller 

 percentage of sub-normals occurring than in the one minute 

 treatments. The strong spermatozoa seem to have been selected 

 by resisting the treatment, and while the percentage developing 



