644 
DR. C. A. MAC MUNN ON THE CHROMATOLOGY OF ACTINIAS. 
in an apparatus from which the air is carefully excluded, the haemoglobin becomes 
changed into hsemochromogen. In the solid tissues of the Actinia, a similar reaction 
occurs, but in the solution used to extract the pigment the hsematin becomes oxidised 
as it comes out of the tissue and shows the alkaline hsematin spectrum, which, however, 
can be reconverted into hsemochromogen by the addition of ammonium sulphide. 
I could not, with certainty, obtain acid hsematin, but I did succeed in converting 
the colouring matter into hsematoporphyrin. By digesting portions of an Actinia 
in sulphuric acid, and filtering through asbestos, a purple-red solution was obtained- 
which showed bands like those of acid hsematoporphyrin, spectrum 12, Chart I., a 
little rectified spirit being added to the acid solution, but the band nearer 
the violet is not placed exactly in the same position as the corresponding band 
of hsematoporphyrin obtained from hsemoglobin. The first band (in one experi¬ 
ment) extended from X 605 to A. 595, and second from X 563 to X 551, but owing 
to the presence of biliverclin and proteids these measurements may not be quite 
reliable, still they possess a certain value when the results are compared with other 
cases. If this spectrum be that of a kind of hsematoporphyrin, it ought to be 
changeable into alkaline hsematoporphyrin, and such is the case. The solution was 
largely diluted with water, and ammonia added to cause the precipitation of the 
pigment. A flocculent precipitate fell; on filtering, an ochry-coloured precipitate was 
left, which, on being dissolved in alcohol and ammonia, gave a red solution, showing 
the spectrum of alkaline hsematoporphyrin, as shown in spectrum 13, Chart I. The 
solution was too dilute to enable me to take the wave-lengths of its bands in the 
large spectroscope, but in the microspectroscope every band could be measured easily. 
Hence there can no longer be a doubt that in Actinia mesembryanthemum a 
colouring matter is present which can be changed into hsemochromogen and hsemato¬ 
porphyrin.'" But a more remarkable likeness to the higher animals as regards its 
pigments is shown by this Actinia, as I find that it contains a pigment which cannot 
in any way be distinguished from biliverdin. I could not believe this at first, but 
there is now no doubt that such is the case, my conclusions being based on a great 
number of experiments. 
Beneath the ectoderm of many specimens, and also in the base (of attachment), a 
green coloration is perceptible. I found that if such portions of an Actinia were put 
into strong sulphuric acid they immediately assumed a vivid green colour, but oil 
examining such portions spectroscopically they were found free from absorption bands, 
but absorbed some of the red end of the spectrum and transmitted the green 
intensified. I then found that if portions having the green colour were put into a 
mixture of alcohol and sulphuric acid, and even in alcohol alone, the solution soon 
* The h re matin of the bile of pulmonate mollusks and of the crayfish is not changeable into alkaline 
hsematin, nor into liEematoporphyrin, so far as one can judge; it is an immature kind of hrematin, as 
Sobby has shown. Krukenbekg’s name, helicorubin, is not appropriate, as this pigment is met with in 
other animals. Fnterolicematin is the name I now propose for it for obvious reasons. 
