214 W. WALDEYER. 
We certainly know that the longitudinal splitting may occur 
either sooner or later, that it may not occur till the mother- 
star is formed, but it always takes place between the first 
appearance of a distinct skein and the complete mother-star. 
We know further, especially from Strasburger’s last memoir, 
that probably in most cases numerous threads are present 
even in the resting nucleus and the skein stage, perhaps 
always the same in number as the distinct segments which are 
seen later on. Nevertheless, one cannot, in the skein stage, 
distinctly separate the different segments from one another. 
It is undisputed that, in all cases, between the skein- and the 
mother-star-stage phases the separate segments (chromosomes) 
stand out very distinctly, usually in the form of loops, and 
that at the same time that important phenomenon, the nuclear 
spindle makes its appearance. These are the grounds which 
induce me to choose the most important processes instead of 
the ‘loose-skein stage,” and the stage of ‘“ displacement 
towards the nuclear plate,’ for signalizing corresponding 
phases of mitosis, and to speak of “ the splitting of the loops 
and spindle-formation stage.” 
The words “ Kernplatte,” “ Aequatorialplatte,’ do no good 
in many cases; in my opinion Flemming’s “ Mutterstern ”’ 
(monaster, mother-star), or even “ Aequatorialstern ” (‘ cou- 
ronne équatoriale ” of Carnoy), recommend themselves more. 
Instead of “‘ Metakinese,” which is not clear in its meaning 
without something in addition, probably “'Trennungs-stadium ” 
(separation-stage) would be better. This would hold for every 
case, even if, as in Spirogyra, for example, no special 
change of position or form occurs. In regard to nomen- 
clature compare Flemming’s paper, “ Zur Orientirung wber 
die Bezeichnung der verschiedenen Formen von Zell- und Kern- 
theilung,”’ ‘ Zool. Anzieger,’ 1886, No. 216. 
(To be continued.) 
