252 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
THE MINUTE STRUCTURE OF (THE 
SPERMATOZOON OF THE NEWT. 
By G. F. DowpEswE LL, M.A. 
(From the Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science.) 
1 Woe general structure of the spermatozoon of the water Newt 
(Triton cristalus) has recently been well and accurately des- 
cribed by Dr. H. Gibbes.* It is to a point therein, which has 
hitherto escaped notice, that I wish here to call attention. 
The spermatozoon consists, as described (loc. cit.) of the “ body,” 
to which is attached a fine, narrow, translucent membrane, 
bordered by what is usually termed “ the filament,” which takes its 
origin from what may be called the neck, the upper or thickest 
extremity of the body. This membrane and “ filament” evidently 
consist of protoplasm, being highly contractile ; in the fresh state 
rhythmical waves of contraction may be seen passing up them, and 
producing that remarkable appearance of spiral rotation, which in 
similar cases was often a source of perplexity to microscopists. The 
“‘body ” also appears to be protoplasmic, both behaving in the same 
manner towards reagents, but the upper and thickest part, ‘“ the 
neck ”—the “elliptical body” mentioned by Gibbes—appears to 
be of somewhat different constitution, as in some cases it stains 
much more deeply and readily than the rest of the body. Sur- 
mounting this, forming a cap as it were, is a long, finely tapering 
conical head, which, as already shown (loc. cit.), is of materially 
different constitution to the other parts, being apparently less stable, 
swelling up readily when treated with water, and being easily 
altered and destroyed by other reagents. It stains more readily 
than the body and membrane, but not so deeply as what I have 
termed the neck. ‘Towards the extreme end, from tapering very 
regularly, the head becomes somewhat abruptly more constricted 
for the last few micras of its length, and is here, in unstained 
preparations, more highly refracting than the rest, its substance 
appears more dense; probably this end portion is solid and 
the remainder hollow (of which preparations stained with carmine 
present very much the appearance), and shows a double contour. 
At the extreme point of this head there is a minute barb. In 
successful preparations it may be very distinctly seen and readily 
measured, and this even when unstained. I have alreadyt referred 
to its existence, and on further examination of better preparations 
*Q. J. M. S., Vol. xix. (1879), p. 487. 
Oh J: MS). Vol lxxxii-) N.S, 1862: 
