156 GERM-CELL CYCLE IN ANIMALS 
This hypothesis is that pairs of odcytes unite end to 
end, the posterior odcyte containing the keimbahn- 
chromatin and the anterior furnishing the egg 
nucleus. Stages in this process are shown in Fig. 47, 
A, B, C, and D. 
As the oécytes increase in size and age the follicular 
epithelium becomes gradually thinner and in several 
instances only a delicate strand could be observed 
between the ends of adjoining odcytes. In Fig. 47, A 
two odcytes are shown without any cellular layer 
between them, although the follicular epithelium 
extends in a short distance at the point of contact. 
The posterior cell is much the larger and older, and 
possesses keimbahn-chromatin, but no nucleus. 
The other odcyte is younger and smaller and con- 
tains what has been interpreted as a disintegrating 
spindle (s). The condition illustrated in Fig. 47, B 
is similar except that the keimbahn-chromatin in 
the posterior odcyte is less regular, having already 
begun to break up, and the chromatin rods in the 
anterior cell represent a further stage in the trans- 
formation of a spindle into a nucleus. Figure 47, C 
illustrates what is considered a later stagein the fusion 
process. The anterior part, which contains a definite 
nucleus, is connected with the posterior position 
by a thick strand. The nuclear membrane is not 
very distinct in the preparation indicating that the 
nucleus is not yet completely formed. The posterior 
part is not as large as in the other figures, since the 
section was not exactly in the longitudinal axis, but 
slightly oblique. The keimbahn-chromatin has been 
