164 



R. KUDO 



When fixed and stained, the spore shows its structure more dis- 

 tinctly. Inside of the spore membrane, a large pyriform polar 

 capsule becomes visible together with the filament coiled within 

 it. The polar capsule, 6 to 7.5m long, occupies half or two-thirds 

 of the anterior portion of the spore (figs. 50, 51, 54). The 

 foramen of the capsule can not be seen well, but the fact that the 

 polar capsule opens at the anterior tip of the spore is clearly 

 perceived in the spore in figure 57. The wall of the polar capsule 



Text figure A. A schematic representation of a spore of Thelohania magna 

 at, anterior tip; pc, polar capsule; pf, polar filament; pt, posterior end; sm, spore 

 membrane; sp, sporeplasm. About X 5000. 



is comparatively thin and is very faintly stained in many cases 

 with Giemsa's mixture. In deeply colored spores, however, it 

 is distinctly recognizable as a reddish sac. In younger spores it 

 is evident, but it is more distinctly visible when the spore is 

 brought under mechanical pressure. 



The polar filament is coiled spirally along the inner surface of 

 the polar capsule (figs. 53 to 55, 57). The spiral begins at the 

 anterior tip of the capsule, and does not differentiate any central 

 axis. Figures 43 and 47 show the developing polar capsule with 

 its filament in young spores, the windings are more or less clearly 



