1914] Snook-Long: Parasynapsis in Aneides lugubris 519 



twenty-eight. In the stage of the polarized loops, cross-sections 

 and polar views in the neighborhood of the sphere jiidicate the 

 number of loops to be fourteen, which agrees with the number of 

 chromosomes comprising the equatorial plate of the first matura- 

 tion division. This difference between twenty-eight and four- 

 teen is to be expected if the chromosomes conjugate whether by 

 the parasynaptic or telosynaptic method. 



Meves (1911) avoids the problem of synapsis by stating : "Die 

 Geschlechtszellen bezw. ihre Kerne haben nach meiner Vorstel- 

 lung (1907) die besondere Eigenschaft ererbt, beim Eintritt in 

 die Wachstumsperiode nur die halbe Zahl von Chromosomen 

 auszubilden. " To which Wilson (1912) replies, "Certainly the 

 adoption of this simple solution would save a great deal of 

 trouble; but I fear that the facts compel us to take a more 

 roundabout way out of our difficulties." A condition so well- 

 defined and clear as the amphitene stage would seem to be too 

 significant to be thus lightly considered. 



This has been interpreted by different investigators to repre- 

 sent either a union of two threads (the Schreiners (1906), 

 Janssens (1905, 1908), Wilson (1911), or a splitting of one 

 Meves (1908), Goldschmidt (1908), Fick (1908). In Aneides 

 the evidence afforded by seriation as recapitulated below seems to 

 the writers to point toward the former interpretation. 



1. Fine, unpaired threads become polarized with respect to 

 that side of the nucleus near which lies the sphere, the proximal 

 pole. 



2. Coincident with this polarization, threads are found asso- 

 ciated two by tw r o at the proximal pole of the nucleus. 



3. By the association of any two threads there is formed a 

 figure, which, when observed from a position at right angles to 

 an axis passing through the poles of the cell, resembles the letter 

 V with the angle turned toward the sphere. 



4. Seriation show y s that the V-shaped figures are succeeded by 

 Y-like figures, of which the stem, frequently exhibiting a double 

 condition, lies in the region of the centrosomes, while the arms 

 diverge widely away from the sphere. Furthermore, it may be 

 observed that as this stage becomes more advanced, the stem of 

 the Y increases in length at the expense of the arms. 



