No. 441 .] COR YMORPHA PEND ULA A G. 



595 



number of pseudopodia-like processes among the adjacent cells 

 and finally absorbing them into their own substance. (Figs. 1 1, 

 12.) The phenomenon as I have observed it is essentially as 

 described by Doflein ('96) for Tubularia larynx. 



The boundaries between one of the large cells and those adja- 

 cent to it begin to break down. This large cell which, according 

 to Doflein has had the advantage of position and nourishment, 

 at once appropriates to itself the protoplasm of these surrounding 

 cells. A syncytium with irregular outline is thus formed from 

 the fusion of these cells, and in it may be detected for some time 

 the disintegrating nuclei of the absorbed cells. (Fig. 12, b.) 



In regard to the process of absorption, there are two distinct 

 views. In Doflein's words ('96, p. 1) : — 



" Die einen Forscher nehmen an dass die Eizelle die umgeb- 

 enden Nahrzellen aktiv auffrisst, sich von denselben, wie eine 

 Amobe von anderen Organismen ernahrt. Dagegen behaupten 

 Andere eine Auflosung dor Nahrzellen und eine Aufnahme der- 

 selben in fliissigem Zustand." 



Doflein ('96) contends that the process of absorption described 

 by Balfour and Tichomiroff as "atnceboidcs Frcsscn" is decid- 

 edly incorrect and that the protoplasmic processes of the devel- 

 oping ova do not function as true mouths which bodily engulf 

 the adjacent primitive ova. While my results in general con- 



