76 E. H. STRICKLAND 
which it becomes once more irregular. The nucleus divides 
many times and at each division the protoplasm condenses 
between the newly formed nuclei to form a fine membrane sep- 
arating them (pl. 4, figs. 5 to 9). Usually the sporont retains its 
globular form throughout its entire life but in some instances 
small irregular masses of dividing cells (fig. 6) were formed, 
which were too small to be primary sporonts and must therefore 
have represented a stage in some subsequent division. The num- 
erous cells are so closely packed together as division advances 
that the exposed surface of each assumes a polygonal, usually 
hexagonal, form (fig. 9). A section through one of these masses 
shows that the septa dividing the nuclei do not in all cases com- 
pletely separate the nuclei with their surrounding protoplasm 
from each other, since toward the center of the sporont they 
become less pronounced and finally disappear entirely (fig. 10). 
Tt is also seen that in the center there are a few nuclei surrounded 
by protoplasm, around the edges of which fine membranes are 
in process of formation. The nuclei are still somewhat irregular 
though much less so than in the earlier stages of division. 
Sporoblasts. When a number of nuclei, varying from about 
30 to 60, have been thus formed and surrounded by a membrane, 
the whole sporont swells and each of the numerous uninuceate 
sporoblasts into which it has now beeh transformed assumes a 
more globular shape. At this period of development neither 
the haematoxylin nor the orange-G stain is retained, but numerous 
bodies of very irregular size and form, having the appearance 
shown in plate 4, figure 11, make their appearance in the myxo- 
sporidium. Each sporoblast gradually retains more and more of 
the haematoxylin till by the time it is transformed into a spore 
its protoplasm stains very deeply. 
Spore. Plate 4, figure 4, represents a section through one of 
the masses of newly formed spores. There does not appear to 
be any membrane around this aggregate, but the spores are held 
together by a quantity of surplus protoplasm which does not 
stain with haematoxylin as does that of the spore. As will be 
observed, the spores are not symmetrically arranged but are 
scattered irregularly throughout the protoplasm which forms the 
