1 54 MUNSON. [Vol. XV. 



the centrosome and sphere in the cytoplasm. It often recalls 

 very forcibly the observations of Auerbach ('96), Leydig ('83, 

 '88), and Rabl ('89). 



The nuclear network can also be distinctly seen in the living 

 egg, without the use of reagents, by causing the contents of 

 the egg to flow out. In such a preparation the nuclear network 

 is very distinct, and presents all of the principal features seen 

 in well-preserved material. It is clearer and better defined, 

 owing to the comparative absence of granules which in preserved 

 material obscure it. A germinal vesicle, removed in this way, 

 remains surrounded on its exterior by a delicate network of 

 fibers enclosing yolk granules. These seem to be intimately 

 connected with the germinal vesicle, and render it impossible 

 to obtain the latter entirely free from them. One might ask 

 whether the peculiarly close adherence of these fibers is not 

 due to a direct continuation with the nuclear network. 



Everything seems to point to the conclusion that this stage 

 of the germinal vesicle is a period of great activity. 



The germinal vesicle, containing a " Hauptnucleolus " and 

 many " Nebennucleoli," and having attained its maximum size, 

 now begins to approach the periphery (PI. XVI, Figs. 104, 1 14). 

 It varies much in form and size. At times long pseudopodia- 

 like processes extend radially far out into the body of the egg, 

 giving the germinal vesicle the appearance of a very irregular 

 amoeba. There may be one or several pseudopodia, and they 

 may thin out to such an extent that it is difficult to trace them. 

 The body of the germinal vesicle, in such a case, may be 

 reduced to a small central area, in which the often very large 

 nucleolus may be seen (PI. XIII, Fig. 5). It may also be 

 greatly extended in one direction, so as to become flattened out 

 into the form of a fish or an arrowhead. 



In all such cases the hyaline karyolymph appears to 

 be wanting, or nearly so. The chromatin granules lie closely 

 packed, and the peculiarly distorted body thus takes the stain 

 with avidity. The " Hauptnucleolus " is always present. There 

 is often a strong temptation to regard these peculiar forms of 

 the germinal vesicle as shrunken conditions due to reagents. 

 As they occur, however, in the best preserved material, it is not 



