PARAMECIUM: CONJUGATION 



53 



fact, a zygote. The zygotes separate and are known as exconju- 

 gants. During conjugation the meganucleus degenerates, sphtting 

 up into shreds, which disappear. After separation the zygote 



B 



Fig. 27. — Conjugation in Ciliata. 



A, Vorticella ; B, Paramecium, 

 c, Pseudo-female conjugant ; c'., pseudo-male ; me., meg., meganuclei ; mtrg'., disintegrating fragments of 

 meganucleus; wi., micronuclei ; ;«»'., abortive microauclei. 



nucleus of the exconjugant undergoes a development whereby 

 nuclei of both kinds are provided. It divides three times success- 

 ively, so that the body contains eight nuclei. After an interval 

 the body divides into two, each half containing four nuclei, and 



