THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPERMATOZOA, 415 
The DevELoPMENT of the SpeRMatozoA. Part II, Hex 
and Rana. By J. E. Buomriexp, B.A., Oxon. (With 
Plates XXIV and XXV.) 
Tue following observations on the development of the 
spermatozoa in Rana and Helix were made as sequels to a 
paper published in this Journal ‘‘On the Development of 
the Spermatozoa in the Earth-worm.” The observations 
have extended over more than a year in each case, and by 
the kindness of Prof. Lankester I have been allowed to 
work in the Zoological Laboratory of University College, 
to whom, for this kindness and for his advice, my best 
thanks are due. 
A. Helix—I was led to make these observations ' in 
consequence of finding that in the development of the 
spermatozoa of Lumbricus a portion of the protoplasm was 
left behind to serve as a support for the developing sperma- 
tozoa. I looked to see if this ‘‘ blastophoral cell,” perhaps of 
theoretical interest, occurred in other forms, and taking, by 
chance, Helix, I found that the spermatozoa were held toge- 
ther at their heads in bundles by darkly granular cells, 
which, similar in function to the blastophoral corpuscles in 
the worm, differed from them in the possession of a nucleus 
(fig. 23). 
To determine the relation of this cell to the spermatozoa 
it was necessary to work through its development, and I 
continued my observations on Helix, now and then making 
preparations from other Gasteropoda in which the process 
seemed to be carried on in a similar way. 
If the ovotestis of Helix be opened about the end of 
summer, in September, and the contents examined, the first 
and last stages of the series will be seen, the first consisting 
of spherical cells with relatively large nuclei, in which a 
well-marked intranuclear network is generally visible; 
and the last, of mature, or nearly mature, spermatozoa, 
united by their heads, in most cases, to an irregularly shaped 
cell, which is noticeable for its dark blue-black granules 
after treatment with osmic acid. 
I say in most cases, because this cell is not present in 
every bundle, but its absence, I believe, may be accounted 
for by its having fallen off during the slight teasing neces- 
sary to spread the contents of the testis on the slide, or by 
the fact that the bundles of spermatozoa are cast off, leaving 
the cell behind. 
