614 MURIEL ROBERTSON AND E. A. MINCHIN. 



In consequence of these divergent theories and interpreta- 

 tions, a great confusion in nomenclature has arisen, especially 

 with repard to n, which is always termed the Ijlepharoplast 

 in German works, the cetitrosome in French works, and in 

 this country is sometimes named the micronncleus, but more 

 usually the kinetonucleus. 



In Flagellata other than the trypanosomes and their allies 

 there is usually only oue structural element other thyn the 

 principal nucleus {N) to be reckoned with in the nuclear 

 apparatus, namely, a deeply staining grain or set of grains, 

 from Avhicli the flagellum or Hagelia take origin, and to 

 which the name " blepharoplast," or the synonymous term 

 " diplosome," ^ is commonly applied. The question at once 

 arises. How is the arrangement seen in a trypanosome to be 

 compared to that of other flagellates, and to which element 

 in the nuclear complex of a trypanosome should the blepharo- 

 plast of an ordinary simple flagellate be compared ? Does it 

 represent the basal granule (true blepharoplast, on our view) 

 or the kineto-nucleus {n) ? In our opinion, the bodies in 

 question are true blepharoplasts, comparable to the basal 

 granules of the flagella of trypanosomes, and the kineto- 

 nucleus or German blepharoplast of the trypanosomes and 

 their allies is a nuclear body peculiar to them, and not 

 found in ordinary flagellates. To this extent, at least, we 

 are in agreement with the idea expressed by Hartmann, 

 who has placed the trj^panosomes and forms regarded as 



contrast opposed views with regard to the nature of the blepharoplast 

 and the proper application of this word. Thus Laveran and Mesuil in 

 their well-known work on trypanosomes use the term "centrosome" for 

 n ; so also Moore and Breinl, who contrast the extra-nuclear centrosome 

 (») with the intra-nuclear centrosome (karyosome of N). 



1 •■ The term " diplosome," meaning literally and etymologically a 

 double body, is commonly applied, by an abuse of language, to the 

 single grain from which a flagellum arises. It should, of coui-se, be 

 used only for those cases where twin granixles give origin to two or 

 more flagella, that is to say it should not be regarded as synonymous 

 with ]:)lepharoplast or basal granule, but as implying a condition in 

 which such bodies are doubled. 



