THE LIVING SUBSTANCE. yj 



order, — the whole group of cells continued to be surrounded, 

 and bound together across the central cavity, by such processes 

 as have been described. Constantly extended, or returning, to 

 one or another of the group, it was often impossible to know 

 to which cell a process belonged, or with which it would next 

 ally itself. 



[85] That such physical connection as is established by the 

 filose processes is not physical only, is shown by passage along 

 them from one cell to another, and even by a palpable inter- 

 change between cells, of both granules and granule-bearing sub- 

 stance. Since in certain eggs in the 8-i6-celled stage, in which 

 the cells had been induced by continued pressure to separate 

 quite widely from each other while continuing their filose activi- 

 ties, the order of cleavage and arrangement of cells in the char- 

 acteristic spiral was not changed, it seemed clearly proven that 

 by the filamentous connections there was maintained true cor- 

 relation and interaction of cells, notwithstanding a separation of 

 their pellicular surfaces. The fact that such was the case was 

 noticed and pointed out to Dr. Whitman long before I discov- 

 ered the actual means by which the seemingly inhibitory con- 

 ditions were transcended. 



[86] The cleavage pore appeared to be closed by somewhat 

 amoeboid activities of the cells about it, and also by peculiar 

 activities of the spinning sort. There were at times in the 

 optical quality of the filaments those differences which charac- 

 terize contracting matter. 



\^'j'\ In early stages the blastomeres may at times be sensibly 

 reduced by outpouring of filose processes, but except under 

 favorable circumstances and very good light, the true cause 

 escapes the observer. A film of dust, or moisture, or of grease 

 from stage fittings, or even from the touch of the human finger, 

 on the surface of the sub-stage condenser, is sufficient to ob- 

 scure all filose processes. 



Eggs on which a continuous series of observations were made 

 developed into perfect free-swimming larvae. Increase of heat 

 up to a certain point stirred up greater filose activity without 

 causing the general development to swerve from the normal. 

 Beyond this point, which was not definitely ascertained in 



