280 THE THEORY OF THE GENE 



Champy has described a case of "total sexual inver- 

 sion" in Triton alpestris. A male triton that had func- 

 tioned as a fertile male was subsequently starved. Under 

 these circumstances the normal renewal of the sperm 

 does not take place, but the animal remains in a sort of 

 "neutral condition," characterized by the presence in the 

 testis of primitive germ-cells. It remains in this condition 

 throughout the winter. Two male tritons that had been 

 treated in this way, underwent, after they had been in- 

 tensively renourished, a change in color from male to 

 female. One of these examined several months later fur- 

 nished evidence that Champy interprets as sex inversion. 

 Since this case has been cited recently as furnishing com- 

 plete evidence of sex inversion, it may be worth while to 

 give a somewhat detailed statement as to what Champy 

 really records. In place of the ovaries he found an elon- 

 gated organ resembling somewhat a young ovary. When 

 sectioned it was found to contain young egg-like cells 

 ("ovocytes") resembling those of a young triton at the 

 stage of metamorphosis. An oviduct was also apparent, 

 recognizable by its white color and sinuous course. 

 Champy concludes we have here an adult animal with 

 the ovary of a young female. The evidence seems to indi- 

 cate that the treatment led to the absorption of the sper- 

 matocytes and sperm. It does not indicate clearly whether 

 the new cells that come to replace them are enlarged 

 spermatogonia or primitive germ-cells or young ova. In 

 the light of other evidence in the Amphibia (Witschi, 

 Harms, Ponse) it may seem not improbable that these 

 cells are in reality young egg-cells and that a partial 

 inversion has taken place. 



Sex Reversal in Miastor. 



In flies belonging to the genera Miastor and Oligarces 

 there is a generation consisting of sexual winged males 



