and Laboratory Methods. 2389 



CURRENT BOTANICAL LITERATURE. 



CHARLES J. CHAMBERLAIN, University of Chicago. 



Books for Review and Separates of Papers on Botanical Subjects should be Sent to Charles J. 

 Chamberlain, University of Chicago, Chicago, 111. 



Mottier, D, M. The behavior of the chrome- The conclusions are based upon a 



somes in the spore mother-cells of higher i r , n i -,, r 



plants and the homology of the pollen and Study of the pollen mother-cells of 



embryo-sac mother-cells. Botanical Gazette, Liliiim Mariagoa, L. candidum, Pody- 



35: 252-282, pis. 11-14, 1903. ,7 77 J. 1. ^ :\ rj. J 



p/iyllum peltafum and J radesca/it/a vtr- 



ginica and also the corresponding divisions in the embryo-sac mother-cell of 

 Lilium Martagon. Prof. Mottier confirms the accounts of those who have de- 

 scribed two longitudinal splittings of the chromosome at the first division of the 

 mother-cell. The first fission occurs in the early prophase and the second dur- 

 ing the metaphase or anaphase. The second fission seems to be a preparation 

 for the second mitosis. After the first mitosis, the chromatin of the daughter 

 nuclei becomes reticulated and almost reaches the structure of the resting con- 

 dition, so that all trace of individual chromosomes is lost. At the second mitosis 

 the chromatin spirem does not split longitudinally, the splitting becoming evi- 

 dent only after metaphase has been reached. There is nothing to indicate that 

 one chromosome differs qualitatively from another. The shape of the chromo- 

 somes is of secondary importance and is determined by the shape of the daugh- 

 ter segments and the manner in which the spindle fibers are attached. The 

 chromosomes seem to be oriented in the nuclear plate by a pulling and pushing 

 action of the fibers. 



The microspore and megaspore mother-cells are homologous. The row of 

 four megaspores is regarded as the primitive type while the single megaspore, as 

 in Lilium^ is a derived condition. c. j. c. 



Moliscb, Hans. Amoeben als Parasiten in Prof. Molisch reports as a new discov- 

 Volvox. Ber. d. deutsch. Bot. Gesell, 21 : ^, , ■> ■ rr i 



20-21? pi. -x iQo^ ^^y ^"^ presence of amoebae m Volvox. 



He has evidently overlooked the work 



of Hicks, published in 1860, in which a very complete description of "amoeboid 



bodies" in Ff/TY^.v is given. 



According to Molisch the amoeba attacks the coenobium from without by 

 thrusting in a pseupodium. The number in each Volvox colony varies from ten 

 to thirty. He could not determine whether all the amoebae entered from without. 

 As they were only found late in November, Molisch concludes that, as the vege- 

 tative period nears an end, the J^olvox cells become less resistant to attacks of 

 the parasite. 



The account given by Hicks does not differ from that of Molisch except in 

 interpretation. Hicks did not believe that an amoeba could successfully attack 

 a living cell, and as he found for each amoeba present, a cell of the ccenobium 

 absent and the amoeba usually occupying the place of the missing cell, he con- 

 cluded that the cell was transformed into an amoeba. 



A careful examination of the literature of a subject often changes a discov- 

 ery into a confirmatory account. W. J. G. Land. 

 Chicago. 



