478 FOOT. [Vou Ix. 
When the spermatozoon first enters the egg, in most cases it 
takes a direct course towards the central aster of the spindle 
(Fig. 1). When it has nearly reached the aster it swerves 
away, as though it were repelled, and continues this curved 
course until its middle piece has reached the point in the 
curved path nearest to the aster (Fig. 1), When the sperm 
has penetrated a definite distance into the egg, on each side of 
Fic. 3. Optical section of entire egg, showing first polar-body, second matura- 
tion spindle, contracted head of sperm and sperm aster. 
its thread-like head are distributed dark, round bodies, which 
stain as intensely as the sperm head itself (Fig. 1). The 
origin and fate of these bodies I have not yet sufficiently 
investigated. I shall call them sperm-granules. The early 
movements of the spermatozoon would suggest that the middle 
piece of the sperm and the central aster of the egg attract 
each other; but if this is correct, the peripheral aster of the 
