58 
H. E. Jordan 
1908), Farmer and Moore (1904), Miyake (1905), Cardiff (1906), and 
Morse (1909), and others indicates in the judgement of these investi- 
gators. In this event one can save the idea of chromosome individuality 
by regarding the linin substructnre as the essential constituent of the 
chromosome as some workers are inclined to do (e. g. Nichols, 1910), 
or by interpreting chromosomes as essentially “enzyme masses” as Mont- 
gomery (1910) suggests on the basis of strongly indicative evidence in 
Euchistus. 
The strongest evidence presented by Morse’s material in favor of 
parasynapsis he fails to mention, viz : the f act, as illustrated in his fig. 11, 
that the loops in synizesis are as tall as the loops in synapsis. This pheno- 
menon greatly strengthens his other arguments for parasynapsis: i. e. 
thicker loops, double character of loops and half nnmber of loops in later 
stage (synapsis), which by themselves furnish little snpport as shown 
above. In this whole field, the question seems to be much less one of 
observation than of interpretation; and the interpretation depends largely 
npon the position one has taken with respect to the natnre and significance 
of the cliromosomes. The observations on this portion of the germ-cells 
of the opossum, indicates, superficially at least, that the original chromo- 
somes, as respects their chromatin constituent, have lost all trace of 
their assumed previous individuality. 
c) Chondriosomes (Chromidia) or Mitochondria. 
Summary. Tvpical chondriosomes first appear abundantly in 
early postsynaptic stages of the growth period. In form they are rnostly 
larger and smaller spherules and iiTegular granules. Some have the 
appearance of short rods (chondrioconts — Duesberg) frequently in 
pairs, possibly the result of fission. The chondriosomes or mitochondria 
assume no definite relationship, either at origin or during their future 
disposition, with respect to the idiozome, such as has been so frequently 
described for invertebrates and some vertebrates (e. g. triton, rat, guinea- 
pig — Duesberg 1910). They are usually gathered into larger and 
smaller groups scattered apparently promiscuously in the cytoplasm, 
but frequently close to the nuclear wall. This typical individual form 
and mode of grouping, and disposition with respect to the nucleus, is 
maintained throughout the future steps of spermatogenesis. The only 
exception is in the metamorphosing spermatids where three distinct 
types with intermediate forms occur: spheres, vesicles and granules. 
The last are much more abundant in the exoplasmic region of the cells; 
the spheres and vesicles in the endoplasmic region. Depth of staining 
