Le Macronucleus Hétéromere de Quelques Ciliés

SUMMARY. In ciliates belonging to the two gymnostome families Chlamydodontidae and Dysteriidae as well as to the order Chonotrichida the macronucleus is composed of two parts which are distinct but in very close juxtaposition. One part, here called “orthomerous,” contains granules or microsomes of desoxyribonucleoprotein and several nucleoli; it thus shows the normal structure of a macronucleus of the ordinary type. The other part, “paramerous,” contains desoxy‐ribonucleic acid diffused, apparently, throughout a homogeneous karyolymph and possesses, in addition, several nucleoli and an endosome of desoxyribonucleoprotein. The three groups of ciliates under discussion are closely related and constitute an assemblage of forms remarkably evolved. The “heteromerous” structure of their macronuclei must be considered as a secondary acquisition and a differentiation of the “homeomerous” type which characterizes the structure of the macronucleus in most other ciliates.