in the septal glands of Narcissus. 61 
appear to confirm the results described for Narcissus , but I 
hope to publish shortly a comparative account of the changes 
in the allied plants. 
The reactions of granules in the protoplasm, which prove 
them to be of a proteid nature, are, that with borax- 
carmine they stain more deeply than the mass of the cell- 
protoplasm, though not so darkly as the nucleus. With 
Hoffmann’s blue they stain as the surrounding protoplasm. 
If the sections are overstained so that the re-agent also 
colours the cell-walls, the granules appear darker than the 
surrounding protoplasm. In common with the surrounding 
protoplasm they show the xantho-proteic reaction when 
treated in the usual way with nitric acid and ammonia. 
They do not show any swelling up with water or dilute 
acids, but are easily soluble in 5 to 8 per cent, aqueous 
potash. In alcoholic potash weaker than 10 per cent., or 
in aluminium chloride than 3 per cent., they do not 
alter, but protracted exposure (8 to 12 hours) to concen- 
trated solution of either re-agent causes their gradual dis- 
appearance. With iodine in potassium iodide, iodine and 
sulphuric acid, chlor-zinc-iodine, or tincture of iodine, they 
only assume a yellow or brownish colour, and show no trace 
of blue or violet. Rosolic acid (corallin) with sodium carbonate 
gives no distinct coloration. They are not altered by alcohol 
containing 3 per cent, of ether benzene, or petroleum spirit 
(therefore not of a resinous or fatty nature). If sections of the 
fresh tissue be mounted in water or dilute glycerin, the granules 
do not show any indication of the ‘ starch-grain crossing ’ with 
polarised light. 
The sections with which these reactions were tried were all, 
except in the last case, where fresh tissue was used, taken from 
material preserved in absolute alcohol, without any previous 
treatment. 
When thin sections of the fresh tissue were placed in abso- 
lute alcohol I was not able to observe in any cases a separation 
of the saccharon crystals in the cells, probably the quantities 
present are too small to allow this to take place, although 
