436 
J. BRONTE GATENBY. 
vol. xxvi. This observer sums up the situation in the case of 
the female as follows : “A transfer of material takes place 
from nurse-cells to the egg through connecting tubes derived 
from the spindle remains of the final oogonial divisions.” In 
this paper, of which Philosamia is the type, Miss Dederer 
shows that the spindle remains in this species persist for a 
long time. In some cases this happens in the male also, and in 
all probability what Platner draws in his PI. XIII, fig. 4, in his 
paper (4) is not the mieromitosome but the remains of the long 
persistent spindle fibres. I have found similar occurrences in 
several species in spermatocytes about to undergo the matura- 
tion divisions. In Taf. XXVII, fig. 66 of Meves’ paper there 
are figured two spermatids side by side, apparently joined by 
a bridge of staining matter. Meves says that the spermatid 
spindle bridge sooner or later disappears. I have been un- 
successful in my search for such spindle bridges in the 
spermatids of any of the species I have examined; there is 
often a well-marked equatorial granule (or granules). 
The Probable Use of the Spindle Bridge. 
In the crowded spermatogonial nests some cells are liable 
to get more nourishment than their fellows and would con- 
sequently grow faster than would be desirable. Where two 
nests touch the cells would be less well nourished than those 
cells bordering ou the part of the nest more exposed to the 
nutritive fiuid of the gonad. To facilitate intercommunica- 
tion between cells and complete uniformity of growth the 
spindle bridge is retained. In the case of the female, Miss 
Dederer shows that the spindle bridge is also concerned in 
passing on nutriment. The function of the bridges is some- 
what different in each sex. 
The Precociously Formed Flagella. 
Meves long ago described these structures, and very little 
remains for mention here, but I am able to add several facts 
