The Oogenesis of Lumbricus

Abstract

IN a recently published number of the Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, Mr. Leslie Harvey, of the department of zoology of the Imperial College of Science, London, has given an account of the cytoplasmic inclusions of the egg of Lumbricus. Mr. Harvey describes yolk formation in this animal, and, on the basis of his work on this one form, criticises my previous investigations on Limnæa, and, by inference, that of my pupils on certain other forms. He merely quotes an old paper of mine, remarking a little discourteously that “a glance at this paper will show that really very little is known about the formation of yolk”. He has not mentioned my recent work on Saccocirrus, the only other annelid studied by modern methods, nor has he read Dr. Rogers Bram-bell's more recent paper on “Yolk” in the British Journal of Experimental Biology, where the collected observations of several of my associates are discussed ably, the molluscan oogenesis re-investigated, and the general views on yolk-formation held in this laboratory stated.