254 
Intestinal Protozoa in Termites 
The strand is stretched into a slender filament, gradually attenuating towards 
the base of the nipple. The nucleus is found lying close by the filament, 
stretching along its whole length and fixed at both its ends. The chromatin 
masses become at this stage more or less long thread-like chromosomes, each 
consisting of several granules loosely arranged in a chain. The nucleus then 
assumes a spindle shape, lying closely by the filament, and the chromosomes 
also become arranged in a spindle along its middle portion (PI. X, fig. 9). They 
then shorten and assume the shape of rods, provided with several slight 
constrictions, which exist throughout the rest of the division. The number 
of chromosomes counted varied from 10 to 14; but in the majority of cases 
they were found to be 12, which probably represents the actual number. 
Meanwhile the chromosomes are divided transversely at the equator and the 
ground substance is also divided at the corresponding place: the halves thus 
produced then move towards opposite poles along the filament, until they 
reach a position near the base of each daughter nipple (Figs. 10 and 11). 
The daughter nuclei are then separated from the filament and come to lie 
at a short distance behind the bases of the nipples, where the chromosomes 
break up into chromatin masses and the nucleus returns to its resting condi¬ 
tion (Fig. 12). The filament becomes detached from the base of the nipple 
and soon disappears. 
As the nipple is divided, the anterior part of the body becomes very much 
widened and flattened, so that the whole body assumes the shape of a turnip; 
the above-described processes taking place under the flattened surface of the 
anterior part. The flagella are not cast off, nor do they cease to move, and 
the organism usually continues to display a sluggish motion throughout the 
whole process of division. 
Interesting and important questions are raised by the above-described 
phenomena of division, and concern the origin of the strand, and the role 
played by the daughter nipples. According to Foa (1904) and Kofoid and 
Swezy (1919), the strand is directly connected with the bases of the daughter 
nipples, and no structures such as centrosomes are recognizable at its ends. 
I have also failed to find any structure such as a centrosome and I am of the 
opinion that the role of division-centre is played by the daughter nipples. 
Further discussions of these points will be given in Part II. 
As in the variety japonica, no forms suggesting the occurrence of any 
other modes of development have been observed in this variety. Forms 
closely resembling those taken by Porter to “present the best evidence of 
being the young” of T. agilis are met with in company with this form. But 
they are undoubtedly quite independent of Trichonympha , and I refer them 
to a new genus, Microspironympha. 
