ITS CHEMICO-PHYSCCAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES 53 



I have observed (IT. 19) that the germinal spot is composed of 

 two substances in Helix, Tellina, and Asteracanthion, as well as in 

 Anodon. Asteracanthion (Fig. 31) is of special interest, as the 

 sepai-ation into two substances (p n, n n) only becomes distinctly 

 visible when the germinal vesicle commences to break up and to 

 form the polar spindle out of its contents. 



Finally, in the description of the structure of the resting nucleus, 

 attention must be drawn to one other important point. According to 

 tl<e age or stage of development of a cell, the resting nucleus may present 

 very considerable variations in all its separate parts : as to the appearance 

 of its framework, and as to the number, size, and peculiarities of its nuc leoli. 

 Thus, as Flemming (II. 10) remarks, " In young eggs from the 

 ovaries of Lamellibranchs, this twofold composition of the large 

 nucleolus is not to be seen ; it only develops in the mature egg." 

 Above all, the germinal vesicles of the eggs undergo during their de- 

 velopment important metamor- 

 phoses, which at present have 

 been but' little investigated, 

 whilst their significance is still 

 less understood. The same is 

 true of the nuclei of sperm 

 mother cells. I have en- 

 deavoured to follow accurately 



these changes of form in Such FIG. 31. Section from an egg of Asterias 



Cells Obtained from the testis of ^cia^ showing the degeneration of the 



germinal vesicle. This begins to shrink up, 

 Ascaris megalocephala (II. 19 6), whilst a ma^s of radiated protoplasm (.;) 



which are very suitable for the forces its way into the interior . breaking 



down the membrane. The germinal spot 



purpose. (,._,-) is ..tin visible, but is divided into two 



As is shown in Fig. 32, form A substances, nuclein (nn) and paranuclein 



gradually becomes transformed (p1 * ( ' Hertwig ' ******" Fi =- 12 -> 

 into form B, and this during the process of development of the 

 spermatozoon into form C ; the youngest sperm mother cells ( B) 

 have naked nuclei containing dense nuclear frameworks, and 

 superficially-placed nucleoli ; this form develops in older cells (C) 

 into a vesicular nucleus with a distinctly marked membrane. In 

 the vesicle a few linin threads are extended through the nuclear 

 sap, the nuclein heaped up into one or two irregular masses, 

 amongst which the more or less globular nucleolus is situated. In 

 cells which are not yet mature, the nuclein is collected chiefly at 

 one spot of the nuclear membrane in the form of a thick layer, 

 whilst granules of varying size lie upon the surface of the linin 



