520 FOOT AND STROBELL. [Vol. XVII. 



indicating that the nutritive substance in the cocoon obviates 

 the necessity of the accumulation in the ^^g itself of so 

 large an amount of cleutoplasm as is found in the ovarian 

 ^gg. In Allolobophora the diminution of the osmophile sub- 

 stance appears to be correlated with the albumen of the 

 cocoon rather than with the development of any one special 

 structure in the Q.g%. 



The decrease in the number of osmophile granules occurs 

 between the germinal vesicle stage (eggs at distal end of ovary) 

 and the metaphase of the first maturation spindle (eggs in the 

 freshly deposited cocoons). We hope to be able to find these 

 intermediate stages with a view to tracing the diminution of 

 the osmophile substance, for we are inclined to think that the 

 storing of the osmophile granules in the ovarian ^gg may be for 

 the use of the ^gg during this period.^ 



We have been unable to determine the origin of the deuto- 

 plasmic (osmophile) granules. If they are secreted by the 

 Q.gg itself, should they not be more numerous in normal eggs, 

 where presumably the functional activity is most pronounced .-^ 

 This, however, is not the case. If their origin is due directly 

 to any substance outside of the Qgg, should they not be more 

 numerous at the periphery.-' This again is not the case. The 

 deutoplasmic granules are relatively more numerous in patho- 

 logical eggs, and in these cases they appear to be formed at 

 the expense of the entire cytoplasm, and not alone of the 

 yolk-nucleus substance. In studying eggs in varying stages 

 of degeneration, the amount of osmophile substance in rela- 

 tion to the cytoplasm increases as degeneration progresses, 

 and finally we have a stage where the oitire cytoplasm of the 

 ^gg has become osmophile. We do not feel justified in assert- 

 ing that this substance is not the same as that forming the 

 normal deutoplasmic granules, for the steps between the two 

 extremes are so gradual that it is impossible to draw a line 

 at any point between the two. One of the first indications 

 of an abnormal egg appears to be an increase in the number 

 of osmophile granules, and a further stage of degeneration is 

 evidenced by aggregations of the granules or their fusing into 

 homogeneous masses (Photo 45, PL XLII), the number of 



^ Since writing the above we have secured these stages. 



