276 
Transactions of the 
[Monthly Microscopical 
Journal, May 1, 1869. 
There are also present stellate bodies, which appear to form the 
transition state between the cells and the mature zoosperms. 
The development of the spermatophora of P. Bernhardus takes 
place in the epididymis and upper portion of the vas deferens, and 
is effected as follows : — The part which I have called the epididymis 
commences by a narrow orifice from the dilated extremity of the 
testicular tube : it consists of three concentric circles, of which 
the central one is the commencement ; these are filled with a 
tenacious granular mass, containing, besides corpuscles, vacuoles, 
or oval spaces filled with a transparent mucous substance. The 
zoosperms collected in large numbers in the extremity of the testi- 
cular tube are forced through the narrow orifice in a continuous 
stream, by the peristaltic action of the walls of the tube, and are 
then immediately surrounded by the tenacious substance above 
mentioned, while the mucoid substance forms round them a ribbon- 
like tube, which is compressed and straight, the edges being thicker 
than the sides form the supporting rods of the future sperma- 
tophorum. This ribbon is divided into sections by a sort of 
dislocation, the two ends are then squeezed together, and the 
tenacious substance is applied to one side at first in a thin layer to 
each section ; they have now arrived at the commencement of the 
vas deferens. As this tube becomes wider, the apices become 
longer, and soon assume the form of the mature spermatophora. 
At first they occur singly in a single row, and the bases do not 
coalesce until some distance down the vas deferens ; this appears to 
be an instance of vital action or change going on in a formed 
material. The carmine solution does not colour the transparent 
envelope of the spermatophorum, yet this changes in shape appa- 
rently by its own inherent forces. 
I have used the word " cell " in the foregoing description as the 
most convenient at present in use, organic unit is too long, 
" particle " or " corpuscle " is a source of endless confusion, " ger- 
minal matter," besides being too indefinite, would properly apply 
only to the nucleus ; it must be understood that the word I have 
used has only the restricted sense, recently put upon it by Professor 
Max Schultze.* His definition of a cell is " a lump of protoplasma 
without an envelope, and containing a nucleus ;" and he considers 
that both parts are derived from the corresponding part of a pre- 
ceding cell. With regard to the word "protoplasma," I do not 
think it so good as "cell substance," inasmuch as it involves a 
theory, and would be inappropriate, if Professor Beale's doctrine of 
the primary formation of the " germinal substance " or nucleus 
should prove to be correct, whereas the term " cell substance " is 
equally applicable whichever view of the case should be adopted. 
* ' Ueber Muskelkorperchen imd das, was man eine zelle zu nennen habe.' 
' Archiv,' f. Anat., 1861, pp. 9 and 11. 
