"Now, the probable composition of green Chlorophyle,—C„ 11„ N 0,, shows that pure white Chlorophyle is not produced from starch. It is necessary that an azotised body in a liquid state should penetrate into the globule of starch, which during this transformation into wax is converted into C„ 11,, N 0„. We do not know yet what that substance is, but it is certain that it must be one which is diffused throughout the plant like starch ; hence it is probably protein, which is changed into a most beautiful violet-coloured substance by the influence of hydrochloric acid and oxygen." At one time it was supposed that the possession of Chlorophyle was characteristic of the vegetable kingdom. The following remarks however of Schultz, in the 'Comptes Rendues' for May 1852, would seem to indicate that the green colouring-matter of some animals closely approaches that of plants. He enumerates several animals of a green colour which are common in ditches and marshes, such as //ydre rindis, several green Turbellaritse, Vortex riridis, esotom urn riridanea, and Ikrostom um emcees, and also several green Infusoria, such as Stint or polyniorpAus,Ophrydiuns rersatife, and Bursa ria rernalia. The colour in these animals is afforded by minute green globules, about 0.016 inch in diameter, which are situated under the integument in the parenchyma of the animals. They are perfectly spherical, and exhibit within the green substance an extremely minute colourless and homogeneous nucleus; or they may consist of several minute green globule; grouped together in a mulberry form. In this latter rano they arise from the division of a homogeneous vesicle. This green colouring substance is not altered by dilute acids or alkaline solutions, by which it is distinguished from the green colouring-matter of several Alger, which according to .Niigeli is changed into yellow, orange, or red by the same reagents. Concentrated sulphuric and
inuriatie acids dissolve the colouring-matter : the solution is of a beautiful green or bluish-green colour, unchanged by the action of heat ; it is also dissolved by a concentrated solution of potass, by ammonia, alcohol, and ether, the colour precisely resembling that of a solution of Chlorophyle. Its development also is influenced in the same way as that of vegetable Chlorophyle by light; but animals con taining it do not evolve oxygen, and tho author thence concludes that the evolution of that gas is not solely dependent upon the Chlorophyle in plants. In Vortex riridis the minute green globules, owing to their mutual compression, assume a hexagonal form ; the green com partments thus formed are separated by an interstitial colourless sub stance. The existence of a colourless membrane around each vesicle may thence be deduced. This fact is further demonstrated in vesicles the green matter of which only partially fills the globular cavity.
With respect to the chemical composition of the membrane and of the nucleus of the vesicles in Vortex riridis, the results of the author's researches are limited to tho following facts :—the solution of potties, and of ammonia and sulphuric acid, after the extraction of the colouring-matter, causes the membrane to swell out, in which the nucleus can no longer be recognised. The membrane becomes pale, and finally disappears entirely, but especially so after long boiling. Acetic and chromic acids and alcohol do not affect the membrane and the nucleus. By solution of iodine the vesicle is coloured brown, the nucleus becomes more distinct, but its colour is unaltered. It cannot consequently be assimilated to the nucleus of the vegetable chloro phyle vesicle, which most frequently consists of atnylum.