GAMETIC MEIOSIS IN MONOCYSTIS. 389 



give the clearest pictures of the nuclear contents. The total 

 number of gametes formed by both gamonts in this species is 

 approximately 130 and the number of sporoblasts is approxi- 

 mately 65. The protoplasm is uniformly alveolar, clear, and with 

 alveoli of medium size. The nucleus of the gamont is spherical 

 and contains a single spherical endosome. 





FJG. 2. First pregametic spindle with 10 chromosomes in one gamont; portion 

 of disintegrating nucleus in the other. Section. Camera lucida. X 2650. 



The material was fixed in hot Schaudinn's fluid consisting of a 

 saturated solution of bichloride of mercury in absolute alcohol 

 without and with 5 per cent, of glacial acetic acid. Seminal 

 vesicles were removed entire from richly infected earthworms and 

 immersed after puncturing, in the killing fluid where they were 

 left for from two to four hours. They were then treated for 

 twenty-four hours with iodized alcohol, embedded in paraffine 

 and cut in sections from three to four microns thick. The 

 sections were stained with iron haematoxylin without or with a 

 counter stain. Other stains were tried but the best results were 

 obtained with iron haematoxylin. 



The metamorphosis of the gamont nucleus begins with the 

 condensation of the chromatin and formation of the chromosomes. 

 At this stage the latter are feebly staining and even in the 

 metaphase of the first division they do not stain with the same 

 intensity as in the later progamous divisions or as they do in the 



