570 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



118. Krukenherg on the Colouring -matters of Birds' Eggs. 



[Die Farbstoffe der Vogeleiersclialen, von C. F. W. Kxukenberg. 

 Verhandl d. pbys.-med. Gesellsch. zu Wiirzburg, N. F. xvii. Bd., 



Nr. S.] 



This paper contains the results of a careful re-examination 

 of the spectra of the various colouring-matters in birds* 

 eggs. 



Oorhodeiu was discovered by Wicke, but first isolated by 

 Sorby [cf. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1875). It is soluble in acidulated 

 water or alcohol, in ether, chloroform, turpentine, &c., giving 

 a green solution with strong red fluorescence. The solution 

 in water acidulated with HCl gives (1) a shortening of both 

 ends of the spectrum as far as the B and g lines ; and (2) a 

 pair of bands, one a little to the red side of D, the other 

 (broader) about midway between D and E. The third band, 

 passing through the D line, which was described by Sorby, 

 was seen neither by the author nor by Liebermann. On 

 diminishing the acidity of the solution both the above bands 

 are shifted towards the red ; and on complete neutralization 

 two more bands appear, one just on the red side of E, the 

 other on the violet side of b. A line occasionally seen 

 between B and C is probably due to some other colouring- 

 matter at present unknown. 



Oorhodein differs from biliverdin in the character of the 

 spectrum obtained by treatment with sulphuric acid. It 

 closely resembles acid hsematin. No traces of it have been 

 found in any part of the body except in the oviduct. 



The oocyan and banded oocyan of Sorby are identified 

 with biliverdin (1) by Gmelin's reaction, and (2) by the 

 behaviour of their spectra on treatment Avith yellow nitric 

 acid. 



Oochlorin and ooxanthin (yellow and rufous ooxanthin of 

 Sorby) are two pigments forming brownish-yellow solutions, 

 which do not give Gmelin's reaction, and show no spectral 

 change on treatment with nitric acid. Two modifications 

 seem to exist : one, found in eggs of Casuarius and Crypturi, 

 soluble in alcohol ; the other, found in the e^^ of the common 

 fowl, insoluble. 



