500 Digby . — Observations on ‘ Chromatin Bodies' and their 
these aggregates, and round each there is a clear space in the cytoplasm, 
as is always to be seen round the ‘ chromatic bodies ’ of Galtonia. Each 
aggregate forms a nucleus. Almost identically the same events take place 
in the formation of the microgametes. During the maturation of the 
female element the macrogamete extrudes part of its substance which lies 
as a mass at the side of the nucleus. Siedlecki regards this action as ‘ une 
epuration nucleaire 
It is difficult to resist the conclusion that, in phenomena such as those 
so strikingly exemplified in Galtonia , we are confronted with processes 
leading to a definite elimination of nuclear substance, and further that 
the analogy which exists between these higher organisms and the Protozoa , 
in this respect, may turn out to possess a far-reaching significance. Beyond 
this it would at present be perhaps unsafe to go ; but it is plain that the 
comparison is worth further investigation. 
Summary. 
1. ‘Chromatic bodies * are found to be present in abundance in the 
pollen mother-cells of Galtonia candicans at the pre-synaptic and synaptic 
nuclear stages. 
In the megaspore mother-cell only a few inconspicuous chromatic 
bodies have been seen. 
2. ‘ Chromatic bodies ’ may originate as portions of the nuclear frame- 
work, or of the synaptic knot, or as nucleolar buds. 
3. They are composed of linin, in which chromatin is embedded, or 
of nucleolar material. 
4. Those ‘ bodies * that come from the ‘ chromatic 5 portion of the 
nucleus retain their connexion with the nucleus, by means of a fine thread, 
until their final disintegration. 
5. The ‘bodies’ pass from the nucleolar space into the surrounding 
cytoplasm, penetrate the cell-wall, and enter the neighbour cell. 
6. On the separation of the pollen mother-cells, the ‘ bodies * remain 
at the extreme edge of the invaded cell. Their connecting threads pass 
through the space between the cells. 
7. As the nucleus comes out of synapsis, the threads break up and the 
‘ bodies ’ begin to disintegrate. 
8. At the ‘ open spireme ’ nuclear stage they can be recognized only 
as refractive granules. 
9. The ‘ chromatic bodies ’ which originate as buds from the nucleolus 
at first take an acid stain, but as they pass into the cytoplasm they become 
increasingly ‘ chromatic \ It is not known whether ‘ bodies ’ so formed 
become secondarily attached to the nucleus. 
10. The nucleolus in the synaptic nucleus of the megaspore mother- 
