366 Biffen . — A Fat- Destroying Fungus. 
they were few in number, usually one, but sometimes two, in 
each segment. At the points of branching a large single one, 
often surrounded by much smaller ones, was almost invariably 
to be found (Fig. 2 b), while the ends of hyphae which had 
finished abstricting conidia rarely contained any. 
The variability of their size and their number did not seem 
to agree with the supposition that they were nuclei, so cul- 
tures were specially grown to determine, if possible, their 
nature. For this purpose conidia were sown in flasks of 
sterilized coco-nut milk, and when a healthy mycelium was 
visible to the naked eye it was lifted out and fixed in the 
usual manner in Rath’s solution. The nucleus-like bodies 
were then found in great abundance. They stained deeply 
with haematoxylin, fuchsin, methyl-green, and with safranin- 
gentian-violet orange G. They gave no reactions when 
tested for glycogen and oil. On treating the mycelium with 
a solution of gastric juice at a temperature of 25 0 C. for twelve 
hours, and again staining, they were found to have dis- 
appeared, while the true nuclei could still be easily distin- 
guished. From this fact and from their action towards 
staining agents it seems clear that the bodies are proteid in 
constitution. Too much importance must not, however, be 
assigned to these micro-chemical reactions. The bodies have 
been observed in many Fungi and described as nuclei. One 
of the most careful accounts of them is given in Guegen’s 
study of the biology of Penicilliuni glaucum \ and he hesitates 
in calling them true nuclei. In this case, however, their size 
and their difference in reaction when treated with gastric 
juice distinguish them from nuclei, and as they pass out into 
the conidia they may possibly serve as reserve stores for use 
during germination. 
Here and there the nuclei showed signs of division by 
karyokinesis, but not definitely enough to make out any 
details. The most noticeable feature about them was the 
frequency with which they were found in close connexion 
with the vacuoles. In most cases they were to be found on 
1 Guegen, Bull, de la Soc. Myc., t. xv, p. 23 ; for literature also. 
