148 



so that without difficulty their number can be ascertained to be 9. 

 Sometimes I have, however, found their number to be 7 or 8 with 

 absolute certainty. This circumstance has a certain interest and 

 will be more closely discussed later. 



A first multipolar spindle figure is formed (fig. 6) which later 

 becomes bipolar. Figures I A, B, C represent 3 spindle figures drawn 

 with a camera. In sections of 5/^ a spindle figure is generally 

 found in two sections. It seems clear, that the number of chromo- 

 somes is 9, but it is remarkable 

 that there is such a great diffe- 

 rence between the chromosomes 

 both in length and shape. Cer- 

 tain shapes of chromosomes can 

 be clearly seen in all three 

 spindles: a very small and short 

 segment I have signed a, and 

 another b and so on. As in 

 Lister a, (Rosenberg 23) and 

 Funhia (Strasburger 26) the 

 same is the case here, that the 

 chromosomes are of different 

 lengths which repeatedly return: 

 in H. auricula there are 5 long 

 and 4 short chromosomes, of 

 which especially the one marked 

 a can always easily be recog- 

 nized. It seems to me, that a 

 careful examination of a great 

 number of plants would prove, 

 that the chromosomes are not 

 always of equal length, but rather often show distinctly characteri- 

 stic sizes and shapes. It is clear that this fact proves with great 

 probability, that the theory of the individuality of chromosomes is 

 well founded, but also that one can claim the right to draw from 

 this the conclusion, that the reduction process consists of an union 

 of corresponding parent chromosomes two and two, because even 

 in the vegetative spindle figures there is such a difference between 

 the chromosomes, even if not so distinctly visible on account of 

 the greater number of chromosomes. It is, as is well known, 



w> 



" IV 



Fig. I. H. auricula, 3 heterotypic 

 spindle figures. 



