ON SPONOIOPORPHYRIN. 337 



On Spongioporphyrin : the Pigment of 

 Suberites Wilsoni. 



By 



C. A. MacMunii, M.A., M.D. 



With Plate 16. 



I. Spongioporphyrin. 



Preliminary. — In July of last year Professor Ray 

 Lankester sent me a specimen of the Australian spouge^ 

 Suberites Wilsoni, which is coloured a fine purple, with 

 a request that 1 would report on its colouring matter. Pro- 

 fessor Lankester had already named this pigment Spongio- 

 porphyrin, a name which is most suitable, but which must 

 not lead to the supposition that the pigment is in any way 

 related to liEematoporphyrin, as I shall show further on. 



Accompanying this specimen were also specimens of ano- 

 ther sponge, viz. the Hexactinellid Polyopogon gigas, 

 and of a gorgonian coral, both being coloured purple. These 

 were sent so that I might determine whether their pigments 

 were related to that of the Suberites. 



Mr. Kirkpatrick, assistant in charge of the collection of 

 sponges at the British Museum, had made at Professor 

 Lankester's request some observations on the pigments 

 both of Suberites and of Polyopogon, which are in- 

 cluded in this report by Professor Lankester's wish. 



