144 A - P - MATHEWS. 



interpret. The granules fade out or seem to dissolve in whole or 

 in part in the viscid matrix. This matrix with the dissolved 

 granules, when in contact with water, rounds itself up as if oily and 

 the crushed protoplasm at first as it flows from the egg breaks into 

 amass of spheres consisting of viscid matter with dissolved gran- 

 ules, and these spheres then ultimately dissolve almost completely 

 in the water. 



The speed of solution of the granules is extraordinary. In 

 some cases where the egg was too much compressed by the 

 coverglass and lens, in a few seconds, almost all the granules in 

 the egg disappeared. 



These granules all stain in the basic dyes infra vifain, and 

 never in acid. I found, however, that if eggs which have died 

 in the ovary are brought into the dyes, all the dead eggs stain in 

 the acid dyes ; all the living in the basic. A change in staining 

 reaction, probably coincident with a change in reaction from alka- 

 line to acid, thus occurs at death. 



If eggs in which the granules are stained with any basic dye be 

 crushed, it will be observed that the color disappears when the 

 granule dissolves. What becomes of the color is a puzzle. It 

 does not stain the matrix nor appear to color the sea-water. It 

 may be that it is destroyed by the chemical change taking place. 



The extreme sensitiveness of the granules, and the abruptness 

 with which the change in appearance of the protoplasm occurs, 

 suggests that possibly this is a physiological process to be corre- 

 lated with some of the vital phenomena, /. c., contractility. 



Dr. R. G. Davis examined, at my suggestion, the chemical 

 composition of the star-fish egg. He succeeded in isolating 

 from the eggs a large amount of an oil, fluid at ordinary temper- 

 atures. The chemical nature of this oil has not been determined. 

 I think it possible that many of these granules represent that oil. 

 The oil is very likely partially saponified and contains a small 

 amount of fatty acid. By the dissociation of this acid the drop 

 or oil globule becomes electro-negative. It is in this way the 

 globule acquires the power of staining with basic dyes, since the 

 insoluble soap is formed. The quick disappearance of the 

 granules when compressed, giving one the impression that they 

 are composed of a fluid which mixes with the viscid matrix, and 



