DR. C. A. MAC MUNN ON THE CHROMATOLOGY OF ACTINIAE. 
657 
glycerin extracts of some tentacles to be referred to farther on. The base in some 
specimens had a pale reddish colour which showed a faint band like that of actinio- 
haematin. The “ yellow cells ” of Anthea are not confined to the tentacles, for they 
could be detected in several places in the ectoderm by the aid of the microscope, and 
they seemed disposed in rows. They were also found in the lining of the body cavity. 
In other specimens examined the ectoderm was brownish, with lighter-coloured 
stripes running from above downwards, the base tinged orange-red, and the tentacles 
bluish-white, without any violet coloration. In both tentacles and ectoderm there 
was a great abundance of “ yellow cells.” On extracting the tentacles with absolute 
alcohol, and filtering, an orange coloured solution having a red fluorescence was 
obtained, which showed spectrum 9, Chart IV., the bands of which read : 1st, from 
X 675 to X 657 ; 2nd, from X 645 to X 629 ; 3rd, X 595 to X 579. On adding nitric acid 
in small quantity a violet and a blue ring formed in contact with the acid, and on mixing 
acid and solution a decided change took place, the solution giving spectrum 10, 
Chart IV., and then acquired a pale yellow colour. On adding a little more nitric 
acid a curious change ensued, as spectrum 11, Chart IV., now appeared. After some 
time the band in red could not be seen : this reaction distinguishes the present 
colouring matter from enterochlorophyll, other animal chlorophylls, and plant chloro¬ 
phyll, but a more striking difference is apparent when this alcoholic solution is treated 
with caustic soda,On treatment with this reagent the fluid assumed a redder colour 
(gaslight), and the spectrum changed to that shown in spectrum 12, Chart IV. ; 
these bands gave the following wave-lengths: 1st, X 609 to X 589; 2nd, X 569 to X 554*5, 
and also a shading between green and blue which were too faint to be measured. 
On digesting some of the reddish parts of Anthea cereus in rectified spirit and caustic 
potash, a greenish solution was obtained which had a red fluorescence, this solution 
gave spectrum 13, Chart IV., the more prominent bands of which read : X 649 to X 633*5, 
and X 607 to X 587. And there was also a band between green and blue visible in a 
thin layer from X 498*5 to X 477. With ammonium sulphide alone a change was 
brought about in an alcoholic solution as shown in Chart IV., spectrum 14. 
The “yellow cells,” on treatment with Schulze’s fluid, gave a distinct cellulose 
reaction, and in their interior the presence of starch was detected with iodine in 
iodide of potassium, but, as in former cases, the best results were obtained by 
previously extracting the tentacles with alcohol, and then macerating them in a weak 
solution of caustic potash, and neutralising with acetic acid. In young specimens of 
Anthea cereus I found much fewer cells than in the larger ones, and in these the starch 
and cellulose reactions could be more easily obtained. 
Since caustic potash and caustic soda change this colouring matter completely, it is 
useless to attempt to saponify it, and this very fact distinguishes, as I said before, 
the colouring matter of the “ yellow cells” from enterochlorophyll, other animal chloro- 
* Keukenberg noticed this change with caustic soda, loc. cit., but failed in seeing that this test 
distinguished the pigment from what he called hepatochromates (= enterochlorophyll). 
