610 REPORT—1899, 
(5) The elaboration of atom-group reactions of proteids for micro- 
chemical purposes. Those which have proved to be the most useful are 
the oxyphenyl (tyrosin) reaction, the CN (biuret) reaction, and that 
resulting from the action of slowly concentrating sulphuric and hydro- 
chloric acids, discovered by Elliott, and apparently due to the indol atom- 
group. It has been found that the Reichl reactions, which are supposed 
to indicate the presence of either indol or skatol in proteids, are without 
value in micro-chemical application, and the same may be said of Krasser’s 
reaction with alloxan, which is held to postulate the occurrence of 
CH,:CH(NH,)‘COOH in the proteid molecule. The atom-group 
reactions are being employed to study the characters of the nuclear com- 
pounds in different cells. 
Owing to the extent of the investigation undertaken, more time is 
required, and the Committee ask to be reappointed. 
Fertilisation in the Pheeophycee.—Report of the Committee, consisting of 
Prof. J. B. Farmer (Chairman), Prof. R. W. PHILuips (Secretary), 
Prof. F. O. Bower, and Prof. HaRvEy Gipson. (Drawn up by the 
Secretary.) 
THE grant made last year for the furtherance of the study of the processes 
of fertilisation among Phzophycez was 20/., and your Committee decided 
to devote again the whole amount as an aid to Mr. J. Lloyd Williams in © 
his researches. 
The following are some of the questions to which Mr. Williams has 
been giving his attention during the past year :— 
1. Dictyota dichotoma. The cytology of the sexual cells of the fertilised 
egg, and of the parthenogenetic stages of the unfertilised egg, has been 
fully worked out, and the results are now ready for publication. 
2. Halidrys siliquosa and Himanthalia lorea. The life-history and 
cytology of these plants have been further investigated. Mr. Williams 
proposes to submit a paper on the former plant for the consideration of 
the Section at Dover. 
3. Laminaria saccharina and Alaria esculenta. Mr. Williams has 
submitted the zoospores of these species to experiment, and has made 
some interesting observations on their germination. 
4, Fucacew. A joint paper by Professor Farmer and Mr. Williams 
on the natural history of several species of Fucaceae is in course of 
preparation. 
5. Fucus hybrids. Mr. Williams has communicated to the ‘Annals of 
Botany’ (vol xiii, No. 49) a short note giving the results of observations 
on this subject. 
The Committee consider that these investigations are likely to yield 
more interesting results when they are carried still further, and they 
would urge the renewal of the grant for another year. 
