382 M. G. Sykes 
far exceeds the number of somatic chromosomes. Tliis fact was also 
noted by Strasburger 1 ). 
The knots or aggregations soon uuite togetker to form larger 
masses, tbe total number of aggregations being tkereby reduced. At 
the same time Strands of the reticulum approach in pairs and a 
donble appearance 2 3 ) is tkus given to various regions of the network. 
This process was demonstrated in both Heidexhain and Flemming 
preparations. At first (Fig. 11. PI. VIH) a pair of threads end in a 
single common knot which is also connected by numerous lateral 
threads to other knots, but soon some of these Connections are broken 
off and, as the donble structure becomes more common througkout 
the nuclei, the aggregations which are now somewhat elongated, 
are clearly seen to be arranged parallel to one another in pairs; 
(Fig. 16. PI. VIH). 
In these aggregations it is often possible to distinguish clumps 
of granules connected by a fibrillär substance which gives the ap- 
pearance of tightly bound and anastomosing threads. (Fig. 16. PL VIII.) 
These early stages were seen in the nuclei of both pollen mother 
cells and embryo sac mother cells, but no furtker stages of the latter 
were examined. 
The aggregations were soon found to be paired throughout the 
nucleus; they become denser, more deeply staining and much more 
definite structures, but in Funkia, unlike the various Monocotyledons 
described by Miyake, I have found it impossible to fix any number 
for any special stage. In such cases as Figs. 12, 17, 18, etc. PI. VIII, 
the knots are well defined structures, but their number is certainly 
far in excess of the number of somatic chromosomes and it seems 
unnecessary to regard them as bodies of a definite nature, such as 
is implied by the term »prockromosome«. 
II. Early synapsis. In Figs. 18, 19. PI. VIII, the reticulum ap- 
pears to be somewhat contracted, and in Fig. 20. PI. VIII it is drawn 
to one side of the nuclear cavity. The double nature of the reti- 
culum at this stage is very obvious in many of the threads which 
still extend to the peripkery of the nucleus (cf. Fig. 21. PI. VIII), while 
the paired aggregations still increase in size and decrease in number. 
*) Strasburger. III, p. 7 and p. 48, 1906. 
2 ) A paired structure before synapsis kas been noted by Overton and 
Allen. P. J. 1906. 
3 ; Overton; 1906. 
