VOL. XVII.—NEW SEE.] 
Ora the Colouring Matters of Various Animals, and 
especially of Deep-sea Forms dredged by H.M.S. 
Challenger. By H. N. Moseley, M.A., Fellow of 
Exeter College, Oxford ; late Naturalist on board H.M.S. 
Challenger. (With Plates I and II.) 
During the voyage of the Challenger I made a continued 
series of observations with the spectroscope on the colouring 
matters of the various Invertcbrata procured by the dredge 
and trawl. The colours were examined spectroscopically in 
almost all cases in which an animal presented marked 
coloration, but usually further attention was only paid in those 
instances in which a spectrum presenting isolated bands 
was obtained, such colouring matters being of most imme¬ 
diate interest because they are able to be readily identified. 
Observations were also carried on on the colouring matters 
of shallow water-forms and land animals in continuation 
of similar work commenced before the voyage was deter¬ 
mined on. 
A simple direct vision spectroscope by Baker, of High 
Ilolborn, was made use of, consisting of slit, collimator, and 
compound prism only. The instrument was usually made 
use of without a microscope. The position of the bands was 
determined by reference to the solar lines, matters being so 
arranged that half the field of view was occupied by the 
solar spectrum, whilst the other half showed the absorption 
spectrum to be determined. 
The following are the observations made on various colour¬ 
ing matters. 
Sponges. 
Poltofogon amadou. —A large Hexactinellid sponge, Poli- 
opogon Amadou (Wyville Thomson), which was dredged in 
630 fathoms off the Ivermadec Islands, showed a bright 
pinkish-purple colouring of its sarcodc. The colour ap¬ 
peared to become developed more vividly on the exposure of 
the sarcodc to the air. The colouring matter is soluble in 
dilute alcohol and fresh water, but not in absolute alcohol. 
The solution gave no absorption bands. 
MUSEUM OF VICTORIA 
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