Colouring-matters of the so-called Bile of Invertebrates, fyc. 373 



dark band superimposed on a shading is noticeable when a crushed 

 Hydra viridis is examined with the microspectroscope, and the 

 same appearance was noticed in the spectrum of a leaf of Anacliaris 

 with which the Hydra was associated. In a thin layer of the alcohol 

 extract of the liver of Ostrava another band became detached, covering 

 F. The first spectrum referred to is mapped in sp. 2. The band in 

 red extended from — 



\696— 684 ; 



and the second from — 



X509— 484. 



When treated with nitric acid the solution became faintly greenish 

 and then a doubling of the band in red was seen to have taken place, 

 the first band faded very quickly leaving the second, but before it 

 disappeared the following readings were obtained : — • 



1st Band X690— 674 



2nd „ X661— 651 



Finally, the series of bands shown in sp. 3, appeared which measured 

 as follows : — 



1st Band X661— 646 or 643 



2nd „ X608— 592 



3rd „ X576— 561 



4th „ X539— 518 



5th „ \505— 484 



These measurements show beyond all doubt that the liver of Ostrwa 

 contains a colouring -matter ivhich when treated in alcoholic solution with 

 nitric acid gives the same spectrum as a similar solution of leaf green 

 ivhen treated with that reagent ; and therefore the liver of Ostrcea contains 

 chlorophyll. A microscopic examination showed that this colouring- 

 matter as it occurred in the liver was more of an orange-yellow 

 colour than it is generally seen in molluscan livers, excepting Mytilus 

 and other Lamellibranchiate Mollusca, which have a marine habitat ; 

 but it is not due to the presence of 'parasitic algae. 



Liver of Mytilus edulis. — The liver of this Mollusc contains the same 

 pigment. In the yellow filtered extract two bands were plainly dis- 

 cernible in a deep layer, while in a shallower depth a third became 

 detached at F : — 



1st Band X670— 651 



2nd „ X616— 593-5 



The latter was placed just before D. With nitric acid the extract 

 became greenish and a series of bands appeared as follows : — 



