DEGENERATE (APYRENE) SPERM-FORMATION OF MOTHS. 485 
Addendum. 
With regard to the matter of degeneration in the testes 
of moths, a very remarkable case has been brought to my 
notice by my friend, Dr. H. Eltringham, of New College, 
Oxford. A number of pupae of the Emperor moth (Satur- 
nia carpini) were purchased May, 1916, and none emerged 
that year. In 1917 about six moths emerged, paired, and 
laid fertile eggs. The rest of the pupae failed to emerge. 
This June a number of the male gonads of these pupae were 
sectioned, and it was fonnd that they contained nothing 
except undeveloped spermatogonia and quite degenerate 
spermatocytes. There seems to be some correlation between 
the state of development of the gonads and time of emer- 
gence. The remaining pupae do not appear to be going to 
emerge this year (July 29th, 1917). 
Summary. 
(1) In Lepidoptera degeneration of cell elements take 
place at all stages of spermatogenesis. 
(2) Degeneration of the chromosomes just after the second 
maturation division leads to what has been called “ apyrene ” 
spermatozoa. 
(3) “Apyrene,” “ oligopyrene,” and “ eupyrene ” sperma- 
tozoa are not separate kinds in Lepidoptera, but all inter- 
mediate stages are to be found. 
(4) It is suggested that in Lepidoptera these terms lack 
the significance which has been attached to them. 
(5) Degeneration may set in just when the cell elements 
are about to be properly orientated before spermiogenesis, 
and in such cases the nucleus and head centrosome fail to 
join. The former sinks down the lengthening sperm. 
(6) The acroblasts almost always accompany the nucleus, 
and form a normal acrosome. 
(7) In degenerate spermatids where the chromsomes fail 
to join up normally, the macromitosome (nebenkern) may 
be normally formed. 
