338 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Proc. 3D Ser. 



nence of two cones could be noted. If my observations 

 are correct, we have in Cassia to7nentosa a most interesting 

 transition stage between the multipolar polyarchal and the 

 multipolar diarchal spindle. 



The largest number of poles of the multipolar spindle 

 observed in cross section was eight; the most frequent 

 number noted in a section was from four to six. In what 

 manner the multipolar spindle finally became a bipolar one 

 could not be determined with certainty; the cones 

 approached each other in two groups (fig. 12), finally 

 forming the bipolar spindle. 



The cell now presents the appearance indicated in figure 

 13. The chromosomes lie in the equatorial plate. In 

 polar view, twelve chromosomes can be observed. The 

 spindle has sharp-pointed poles. Apparently there are here 

 three kinds of fibers; some having the appearance of 

 strands are attached to the chromosomes; some run from 

 pole to pole; while from each pole mantle-fibers diverge 

 into the granular zone. The fibers stain a deep blue; the 

 granular zone is yellow-brown; but the irregular line around 

 the granular zone is as blue and sharp as it was before. 

 The poles of the spindle project into the granular zone. 



The wandering of the chromosomes toward the poles 

 now begins in the usual manner; the continuous fibers still 

 run from pole to pole; while the mantle-fibers become 

 more prominent. 



At this stage we find, sometimes inside the granular zone, 

 sometimes outside it, small round bodies which stain red, 

 sharply contrasting with other similar bodies, lying on the 

 outskirts of the granular zone, which stain a deep violet, 

 and look like the oil-globules previously observed. 



Finally the chromosomes reach the poles, and the contin- 

 uous fibers as well as the mantle-fibers assume a wavy 

 appearance. The mantle-fibers during the last stage diverge 

 more than formerly.^ Why the continuous fibers should 

 assume this wavy appearance is not clear. Certainly the 



1 Perhaps it would be well to state here that these mantle-fibers were not equally 

 prominent in all preparations. In fact in some cases no trace of them could be found. 



