THE FORCES IN THE ORGANISM 



55 



vast number of germ-cells a fierce competition for the food con- 

 tained in the vesicles. But as there are among the germ-cells, 

 as among animals, strong and weak individuals it happens that 

 the stronger cells seize great quantities of food at the expense 

 of the weaker cells. The result of this struggle is that a large 

 number of the germ-cells, owing to insufficient nutrition, atrophy 



FIG. 15. THE STRUGGLE OF THE GERM-CELLS IN THE MALE GLANDS OF A 



CUTTLE-FISH (Rossia macrosonia) . 



(1) Spermatoblasts in process of disintegration : (a) normal; (b) disintegrating; 

 (c) two young spermatozoa (spermatides) which have entered into the disintegrating 

 mass. (2) The completely disintegrated cells, forming an amorphous lump of food, 

 at the expense of which the surviving spermatozoa develop. (3) and (4) The "food- 

 mass " is being gradually devoured. (After Thesing, "Notes on the Spermato- 

 genesis of the Cephalopods.") 



and finally disintegrate. One may sometimes observe entire 

 colonies of many hundreds of cells in this state of incipient disso- 

 lution. First the margins become indistinct, then the nucleus 

 disintegrates and its component parts mix with the rest of the 

 cell-fluid. Finally, confluence takes place of the adjoining cells, 

 thus forming a uniform substance (see fig. 15). 



