DR. C. A. MAC MTTNN ON THE CHROMATOLOGY OF ACTINIeE. 
643 
Actinia mesembryanthemwn * —A tolerably uniform result is obtained by the 
examination of all red-coloured specimens of this species. When the solid portions 
from the ectoderm, endoderm, and tentacles (in most cases) are examined in the 
manner described, a band which closely resembles that of reduced haemoglobin is seen, 
accompanied generally by two other bands nearer the violet end of the spectrum, 
Chart I., spectrum 1. The extreme edges of the shading of the band extend from 
X 600 to X 560, while its darkest part is from X 580 to X 563. These measurements 
vary, however, according to the colour of the specimen, for in brown specimens the 
dominant band is nearer the violet, and in some a band is also present before D. As 
subsequent observations showed, the latter spectrum belongs to modifications of the 
same colouring matter, for the same decomposition products are obtained in both 
cases. The best way to show this variation of the band according to the colour of the 
specimen is by drawing a number of spectra from different cases, which accordingly I 
have done in the accompanying Chart I., spectrum 1 to 8. The blue chromatophores 
(=‘ c eye-spots ”) show always a spectrum in which the band is nearer the red than in 
the ectoderm and endoderm, and has a likeness to that of indigo-blue. This spectrum 
is shown in Chart I., spectrum 9. In purely brown specimens the spectrum is tolerably 
constant, as they all showed a band between D and E, and generally one at D, 
spectra 5 and 6, Chart I. They also—as I have stated—give the same decompo¬ 
sition products as the red specimens, and this remark applies to greenish specimens. 
The spectrum of brown specimens has a close resemblance to that of the pigments to 
which I have given the name histoheematins, and a spectrum even more closely related 
to these is seen in Sagartia troglodytes. 
I tried by the use of alcohol, ether, chloroform, bisulphide of carbon, and other 
solvents, to get this colouring matter out of the different parts of Actinci mesembry- 
anthemum, but failed. I succeeded in getting it out changed by boiling with rectified 
spirit and caustic potash or caustic soda, also by digesting in the cold with the same 
solutions, but at last I found that it could be extracted with glycerin. 
When boiled with caustic potash and rectified spirit, or slowly extracted in the cold, a 
reddish solution was always obtained, which showed a band at D, spectrum 10, Chart I., 
generally extending from X 625 to X 589, which recalls to mind the spectrum of alkaline 
hEematin ; when sulphide of ammonium was added to this, the band at D disappeared, 
to be replaced in every case by two well-defined bands, which are undistinguishable from 
hsemochromogen, spectrum 11, Chart I. The first extended from X 564'5 to X 553, the 
second from X 537 to X 521 - 5. Their peculiarities of shading and their position are those 
of heemochromogen. I then observed that all the red colouring-matter in the Actinise 
gave after this treatment in the solid state the spectrum of htemochromogen. Now 
Hoppe-Seyleb t found that if solutions of haemoglobin are treated with caustic alkalies 
* In every case the finely divided portions of the Actiniae were well washed in distilled water before 
examination. 
t “ Weitere Mittheilungen fiber die Eigenschaften des Blntfarbstoffs. ” Zeitschrift f. physiol. Cliem., 
vol.i., p. 138, and Physiol. Chemie, also Professor Gamgee’s ‘ Physiological Chemistry,’ vol. i., 1880. 
