Nuclear Division in Funkia. 
383 
As two or more pairs are often seen in contact with one an- 
other there seems no doubt that reduction of number by means of 
fusion is still taking place, but bere also, I find it quite impossible 
to state that any definite number of pairs of aggregations is ulti- 
mately formed. The smallest number figured are seen in Figs. 23, 
24. PI. VIII, where the whole nuclear mass forms a tight ball at one 
side of the nuclear cavity, in the midst of which it is generally im- 
possible to distinguish clearly the separate threads, and often diffi- 
cult, except in very thin sections to make out definitely the limits 
of each pair of aggregations. In faintly stained preparations, each 
aggregation can be seen to be made up of numerous granules, much 
more closely bound together, and forming a smaller and denser mass 
than formerly. The use of these thin sections however introduces 
another difficulty in ascertaining the number of the pairs, as they 
have to be counted in several successive sections. In all cases more 
than twelve pairs were found: and, although there sometimes seemed 
to be fewer than twenty-four pairs present, this was the number most 
frequently calculated. Miyake *) bas noted the smaller number as 
sometimes occurring and suggests that the reduced number of chro- 
mosomes should be considered to be twelve and that the twenty-four 
arise later from these by fragmentation, but I should much prefer 
not to ascribe to these aggregations any positive homology with the 
chromosomes which are ultimately formed. 
It may be of some interest to note here the appearances pre- 
sented by numerous nuclei in early synapsis, belonging to cells 
situated in the periphery of anther loculi. Here the too rapid en- 
trance of, or too long exposure to, the action of the fixing fluids 
has caused shrinking; large elongated, darkly staining bodies, in 
which a granulär structure is visible, are found in these nuclei. 
There can be little doubt that these bodies represent the altered 
products of the aggregations described above, as they are nearly 
always obviously paired and there are usually about twenty-four 
pairs present. 
In no nucleus could any clear instance of fusion * 2 ) between the 
members of a pair of aggregations be observed; Fig. 22. PI. I is one 
of a very few examples in which apparently there was occasional 
contact, but no obviously single aggregations, such as those figured 
1) Miyake. 1906. p. 89. and Str. UI. 1906. p. 19. 
2 ) Strasburger. II. 1904. p. 23. also III. 1906. p. 37 etc. 
