36 EISEN. [Vol. XVII. 



the granules are found both evenly distributed and arranged 

 in larger heaps. The active stages of the linin are to be found 

 during the prophases, during the formation of and the separa- 

 tion of the leaders. It is during this period that the lino- 

 plasts are dissolved in order to supply the necessary and 

 extraordinary linin required for this process. The linin is 

 then seen to consist of a network attached to the chromosomes 

 or spireme segments, while part of it spreads out through the 

 nucleus as irregular bridges between the chromatin segments. 

 The linin possesses thus two distinct qualities, one being 

 that of supporting the chromioles, chromosomes, or chromatin 

 parts generally, the other being that of separating the two split 

 spireme or leader halves from each other. As soon as this lat- 

 ter process is accomplished the linin is dispersed, at first all 

 through the nucleus, and later on through the cytoplasmic 

 part of the cell. The mass of the linin is composed principally 

 of one kind of granules — the kind here always referred to 

 as the linin granules. This general granule stains reddish or 

 gray according to the process of differentiation. But in these 

 granula we also find scattered isolated granules which stain 

 only with the iron-haematoxylin stain (Fig. 26 b). Of the 

 nature of these granula I have no knowledge, but it suggests 

 itself to me that perhaps these denser appearing granula may 

 serve as a support for the other kind, insuring an equal or at 

 least a proper distribution. 



It will be seen that during the period of activity the linin 

 granule stains differently from what it does when in rest. This 

 differentiation is, however, only brought out by the achromatic 

 light-filter mentioned elsewhere. With the use of this filter 

 we find that the linin granule during its activity stains bright 

 and light red, while during the periods of rest it stains dark 

 gray. This differentiation also allows us to follow the linin 

 granules through the cytoplasm after the nuclear membrane 

 has been dispersed. What finally becomes of these linin 

 granules is uncertain. But I have no observations which 

 would indicate that they reconcentrate themselves in the new 

 daughter-nuclei. On the contrary, there is no sign of any 

 accumulation of linin granules in the immediate vicinity of the 



