Multinucleated Condition uj the Vei/etahle Cell. o9 



l)la.sin or nucleoplasm becoiuiiig at the same time less 

 dense in the middle, and denser at eacii end, forming the 

 daughter nuclei. Gradually the protoplasm is drawn to 

 each end, until only a thin connecting thread is left, which 

 is finally ru[)turcd. 



At a certain period the protoplasm collects round the 

 numerous nuclei, and finally separates into distinct bodies, 

 thus giving rise to zoospores. The nucleus remains during 

 the swarming of the zoospores, and again divides in the 

 same manner in the unicellular organisms. 



More recently, Professor Schmitz* has demonstrated the 

 presence of numerous nuclei in the cells of Saprolegm'a 

 and allied forms, as also in Peronospora, Mucor, &c., which 

 are embedded in the parietal layer of protoplasm. 



In some of the larger species of Conferva there are 

 two nuclei in each cell, which multiplied by bipartition 

 before the division of the cell, which thus contains four 

 nuclei for the time being. In the 3Tyxomycetes he found 

 the nuclei to be present in great numbers in the Plas- 

 modia. 



As had previously been observed by De Bary, the asci 

 of the Ascosporece contain eight nuclei, resulting from divi- 

 sion of the parent nucleus. In various other plants of low 

 organisation Schmitz has shown the multinucleated condi- 

 tion to be constant. 



G. Bertholdf has confirmed the observations of Schmitz 

 regarding the plurality of nuclei in the cells of several 

 Siphonem. In CocUum he was able to follow the division of 

 the nucleus. After assuming a fusiform shape, it became 

 constricted in the middle, and then swollen out at the 

 ends. Finally, the two daughter nuclei were formed, the 

 threads which joined tliem being ruptured. In Deihesia 

 there were a large number of nuclei in the young sporangia, 

 united by a network of threads. These were gradually re- 

 placed by a number of larger nuclei, each of which formed 

 into a zoospore. 



Again, M. Maupas| notices the occurrence of several 

 nuclei in the animal cell in the cases of Euchelys (jigas, 



* SB. Nicdcrrheiii. Gcs. Xalur-u, Hcilk, Bonn, August •], 1870. 

 t MT. Zool. Stat. Xcapcl., ii. (1880), pp. 72-78. 

 X ^ompf<s nc)id7ix, Jxxxix. [\f^79). p. 25(^ 



