.540 TEAXS ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. LX. 



Kristelli proposes the name of Lipoxanthin for the iipo- 

 chroraes of plants, and takes carotin as the type of these; 

 the necessity for a new tenn for plant lipochromes, while 

 their relation to those of animals has not been worked out, 

 -can hardly, however, be said to be quite apparent. Further, 

 he puts forward the view that while lipochromes (lipoxan- 

 thins), which occur in oily drops in the protoplasm, function 

 as reserves, those associated with chromoleu cites are of 

 extreme importance as carriers of oxygen, the process not 

 being accompanied by any destruction of the pigment. 

 Simroth adds to this the suggestion that chlorophyll is 

 merely an oxidised lipochrome, and that tlie colours of 

 flowers and fruits are due to a deoxidation of chlorophyll. 

 The last suggestion is just the common one of the connec- 

 tion between chlorophyll and lipochrome, and of the first 

 we can only say that it seems to be premature as yet. 



Zopf (21 and 22), who of late has worked much at 

 the pigments of plants, also inclines to the opinion that 

 the lipochromes function as reserves, and instances the 

 case of the disappearance of the lipochrome and the 

 associated fat during the germination of the spores and 

 gemmte of various species of Pilobolas. The fact is of the 

 same nature as that of the disappearance of fat and pigment 

 from the muscles of the fasting salmon, and cannot be 

 regarded as a conclusive proof that the lipochromes are in 

 themselves really reserves, — indeed, speculation as to their 

 function is perhaps better postponed until their chemical 

 composition is known. 



As to the classification of the lipochromes, Zopf, who 

 prefers the term carotin, proposes the following : — 



1, EUCAROTINS, hydrocarbons which do not form com- 

 pounds with the alkalies or alkaline earths, and which in 

 alcohol, ether, and petrol-ether form yellow solutions. 



2. Carotinines, oxygen-containing bodies which form 

 compounds with the aikalies and alkaline earths, and 

 which in alcohol, ether, and petrol-ether form red solutions. 



It will be observed that this classification agrees with 

 that proposed by Courchet in separating the two series very 

 widely, in this case on the ground of different chemical 

 composition. In working at the pigments of the Xorway 

 lobster, however, I have found that the red pigment of the 



