BLUE PIGMENT IN COEAL AND OTHER ANIMAL ORGANISMS. 265 



pale chlorophyll green tint, and its solutions in alcohol, glacial 

 acetic and lactic acids were also of a pale green colour ; it was 

 practically insoluble in formic acid. 



Under the microscope it was seen to be largely made up of 

 membranous matter and cells containing granules of the green 

 pigment. On exposure to light this green pigment gradually 

 darkened somewhat. 



Other Animal Blue Pigments. 



The late Prof. H. 1ST. Moseley, gives an account of certain blue 

 and other animal pigments in his paper on the colouring matter 

 of various animals. 1 



Purple Pentacrinin. — He states that many species of penta- 

 crinins readily yield to acidified alcohol colouring matter with 

 well defined spectra. The two principal bands correspond very 

 nearly to those of turacin. 



When rendered alkaline by ammonia the solution becomes 

 bluish-green. When the acid solution of pentacrinin is carefully 

 concentrated it yields a dark violet amorphous precipitate, which 

 is only slightly soluble in alcohol ; it is not soluble in hydrochloric 

 acid alone. 



The fresh colouring matter is soluble in fresh water, but remains 

 partly suspended, forming a slightly opaque dark purple solution, 

 on acidifying it entirely dissolves to a beautiful pink ; when this 

 is rendered alkaline a green flocculent precipitate is thrown down. 



Antedonin. — Antedonins are usually rose, orange, yellow or 

 brown colour to purple. A dark purple one was dredged off Cape 

 York, Australia. The pigment was insoluble in glycerin, largely 

 soluble in fresh water, and very soluble in weak spirit, and gave 

 an intense fuchsine coloured solution, becoming pinker on dilution 

 with alcohol. 



When the alcoholic solution is rendered alkaline by ammonia 

 it changes to a deep violet, and a flocculent purple precipitate is 



1 Quarterly Journ. Micro. Science, xvn , 1877. 



