233 
far mainly to the study of the living eggs and larvre and the methods 
which would enable me to section them successfully. I have made a 
series of photographs of the living embryo from the time of the first 
segmentation of the egg to the adult larval stage. <A series of sections has 
also been made corresponding to the stages represented by the photo- 
graphs. 
While engaged in this part of the work some facts were demonstrated 
which it was believed might have some value and be of general interest 
to the Academy at this time. 
The following notes are presented as a slight contribution to our 
knowledge of the embryology of the American forms of Gordiide: 
1. Concerning the early cleavage of the egg there has been not a 
little disagreement among authors. Villot maintains that the cleavage is 
regular, while the figures of Camerano show that there is much irregular- 
ity. In a series of photographs of the eggs of Paragordius (Gordius) 
varius (Leidy) it is clearly seen that the first segmentation is total and 
the resulting spheres are approximately equal in size. A large number of 
eges were observed showing equal segmentation. The sections prepared 
also show this method of division. 
In other series of the photographs are shown: 
2. The development of the egg until an oval mass of cells, the blastula, 
is formed. 
3. Segmenting eggs still inclosed in the mass which binds them 
together into threads. 
4. Surface views of the formation of the gastrula. 
5. The larve still within the egg membrane. 
6. The larvie freed from the egg membrane, some with the proboscis 
extended and others in which it is retracted. 
The embryos were all photographed while living except the specimens 
showing the protruded proboscis. 
The figures, together with drawings of the sections prepared, will be 
published later. 
