86 Observations on the Chromatology of Actiniae. [Jan. 22, 



The presence of a colouring matter in Actinia mesembryanthemum, 

 which can be changed into alkaline heematin, haemochromogen, and 

 acid and alkaline haematoporphyrin is proved by appropriate tests, 

 hence this Actinia contains a pigment nearly related to haemoglobin. 

 The same colouring matter has been found in Bunodes crassicornis, 

 Sagartia dianthus (in small amount), Sagartia viduata (traces), and a 

 closely connected pigment in Sagartia troglodytes, both in ectoderm 

 and endoderm. 



Another colouring matter is found which is special to this species 

 in Sagartia parasitica ; it is capable of existing in the oxidised and 

 reduced state, and is found in the ectoderm, while in the interior of 

 the animal a pigment changeable into haemochromogen was detected ; 

 the spectroscopic characters of the former are described in detail. 



In the mesoderm and elsewhere in Actinia mesembryanthemum and 

 in Bunodes crassicornis, a green pigment occurs which is undistinguish- 

 able from biliverdin. It gives the same play of colours (in solution) 

 with nitric acid, and the same changes of spectra which accompany 

 the colour changes with that reagent in the case of biliverdin from 

 die bile of vertebrates. The presence of a chlorophyll-like spectrum 

 has been detected in the tentacles of Bunodes ballii and Sagartia bellis, 

 as well as in Anthea cereus (in which last it had been previously 

 detected by former observers), and this spectrum has been found to 

 belong to the " yellow cells " which are found abundantly in the 

 tentacles and elsewhere in these species. The various solutions of 

 this colouring matter give the same spectra in all three. Professor 

 Lankester's and Mr. Sorby's statement that this spectrum is similar to 

 chlorofucin has been verified by a comparison with a solution of 

 chlorofucin from Fucus serratus. 



This colouring matter has been shown — contrary to the opinion 

 expressed by Krukenberg — to be quite different from enterochlorophyll, 

 also from plant chlorophyll, and other animal chlorophylls. 



In every case the " yellow cells " are proved to have a cellulose wall, 

 and to contain starch. 



There are various new facts ascertained which cannot be explained 

 by means of a short abstract. 



The conclusions arrived at may in part be summed up as follows : — 



(1.) Actinia mesembryanthemum contains a colouring matter which 

 can be changed into haemochromogen and haematoporphyrin, this is 

 present in the other species mentioned above, and from its characters 

 it is provisionally named Actiniohazmatin. 



(2.) It is not actiniochrome (a pigment found by Professor Moseley 

 in the tentacles of Bunodes crassicornis), as its band occurs nearer the 

 violet than that of actiniochrome. Moreover, both actiniochrome 

 and actiniohaematin can be extracted with glycerin, in which the latter 

 is convertible into haemochromogen, but the former remains unchanged. 



