MATURATION OF OVUM OF ALOSYONIUM DIGITATUM. 505 
says: “I was unable to demonstrate any of the ordinary 
features of this process (i.e. maturation) either in living eggs 
or in those sectioned and stained. Intimately associated with 
these changes were nuclear modifications of a more or less 
remarkable character. Prominent among them is the disso- 
ciation of the nuclear membrane which occurs shortly before 
the birth of the medusze and the discharge of the eggs. 
Following this there occurs a marked decrease in the mass of 
nuclear substance, probably due to the loss of nuclear sap or 
a dispersal of matter through the cytoplasm, so that the 
nucleus measures only about half that of the ovarianege. Of 
still greater importance is the change which occurs in the 
chromatin network of the nucleus, which appears to wholly 
disintegrate and to disperse through the cytoplasm. Not the 
slightest traces of chromosomes or chromatin substance can 
be demonstrated in the nuclei or cytoplasm at the time of the 
liberation of the medusa. The nucleus itself, greatly reduced 
in size, may still be seen as a definite area of very homo- 
geneous texture, but indefinitely merging into the surround- 
ing cytoplasm, there being no trace of nuclear membrane.” 
It is unnecessary to insist on the great similarity of 
Hargitt’s observations to what I have described in the case 
of Alcyonium digitatum. M. D. Hitt. 
Eron, 
May 18th, 1905. 
vou. 49, PART 3,—NEW SERIES. 37 
