126 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
Colouring Matter from Yentilago madraspatana. — Of this Mr 
Hooper writes ' “ The red colouring matter in the other bottle 
should he more extensively known. It is a drug that has been used 
as a dye in South India for ages, under the name of ‘ Vembadam 
hark.’ It is the produce of a large creeper, the Ventilago madras- 
patana, which grows on the slopes of the Nilgiris and in the Mysore 
district. The hark, besides dyeing silk and other materials, yields 
its colour to fixed and volatile oils, and, what is a desideratum, to 
kerosene oil. From an analysis, I make it an anthracene derivative.” 
The absorption spectrum for thin and thicker films is shown in 
figures (k) and (Z). There are no absorption hands, hut the light 
is completely absorbed, even with a very thin film, except from 
1730 to 1588 (W. L. 604). With a thicker layer the absorption is 
complete, except from 1702 (W. L. 743) to 1622 (W. L. 636*6). 
Thus the absorption is almost entirely confined to the more 
refrangible end. This substance would probably be found very 
suitable for dyeing cloths for use as non-actinic blinds in “ dark 
rooms.” 
Colouring Matter from the Funiculus of the Wattle . — This yields 
a very pretty spectrum, figure (m), characterised by two well-marked 
absorption bands. The first extends from about 1546 (W. L. 568*8) 
to 1519 (W. L. 550*2), the second from 1506 (W. L. 541*8) to 1453 
(W. L. 511*2). The relative darkness of the two bands is 10 : 8. 
When a thicker layer of the substance is used the two bands almost 
come together, but a slight green colour is seen between them. The 
absorption between band II. and the end of the spectrum also in- 
creases. In an alkaline solution the bands are somewhat narrower, 
but their centres are unchanged in position. 
Solution of “ War as .” — The dye known as “ Waras” is got from 
the glands of the fruit of Flemingia Grahamiana (W. and A.), one 
of the Leguminosse. The absorption spectrum shows no bands, but 
absorption is complete except between 1580 (W. L. 597) and 1523 
(W. L. 552*8). 
Solution of “ Kamala ” — This dye is got from the glands of the 
fruit of Rottlera tindoria, one of the Euphorbiacese. It resembles 
Waras very closely, but is transparent to light of a somewhat greater 
wave-length. The absorption is complete except between 1688 
(W. L. 722) and 1549 (W. L. 571*2). The chemical relations of 
