1888-89.] A. B. Griffiths on “ Liver” of Carcinus moenas. 179 
in fishes, and then only in a rudimentary state.” From the recent 
researches of Krukenberg, Fredericq, Jonsset de Bellesme, Plateau, 
Hoppe-Seyler, as well as those of the author, the problem now re- 
quiring solution is the following Does a true liver exist in the 
Invertebrata ? The pancreas appears to he the chief digestive organ 
(other than a true stomach) of the earlier forms of animal life. 
The Liver of Carcinus moenas. 
The “ liver ” of Car emus moenas consists of two large glands on 
each side of the stomach, and extends the whole length of the 
cephalo-thorax. These organs are of a yellow colour, and consist of 
numerous coecal tubes arranged in tufts, which are easily seen in a 
dissection beneath the surface of water. The secretion of the so- 
called “liver” of Carcinus moenas , when freshly killed, gives an 
acid reaction. 
1. The secretion of the organs forms an emulsion with stearin, 
yielding subsequently fatty acids and glycerol : — 
C 67 H 110 O 6 + 3H 2 0 = 3C 18 H 36 0 2 + C 3 H 8 0 3 . 
2. The secretion acts upon starch paste. The starch granules 
disappear, with the exception of their celluloid covering; and on 
treating with water, and then adding Fehling’s solution, a deposit 
of cuprous oxide was obtained. This reaction shows that there 
exists in the secretion a substance capable of converting starch into 
glucose. 
3. The secretion dissolves coagulated albumin. 
4. Tannic acid gives a white precipitate with the secretion. 
5. The action of the secretion upon milk was to render it trans- 
parent. 
6. When a few drops of the secretion of these organs were 
examined with chemical reagents under the microscope, the follow- 
ing reactions were observed : — 
On running in a solution of iodine in potassium iodide between 
the slide and cover-slip, a brown deposit was obtained; and, on 
running in concentrated nitric acid upon another slide containing 
the secretion, a yellowish coloration was produced, due to the for- 
mation of xanthoproteic acid. These reactions show the presence 
of albumin in the secretion of the organs in question. 
