the racemic acid (1). The hydrochloride of the methyl betaine which was recrystallizecl by adding hot ethyl acetate to a boiling solution of the coinpouncl in absolute ethanol had m.p. 217-218' (gas evolution) and [a]: -13.0" (27, in ethanol). The infrared spectrum and the X-ray powder diagram of the synthetic (-)-homostachydrine hydrochloride were identical in all respects with those of the hydrochloride of the natural material. Similarly, the synthetic and natural sainples were chromatographically pure, and indistinguishable from each other, having RF 0.58 in n-butanol -concentrated hydrochloric acicl -water (100 :20 :39) and R p 0.33 in 95% ethanol -concentrated aqueous ammonia (95 : 5).We thanlr. Dr. Maria Przybylslta and Mr. R. Lauzon of these laboratories for the X-ray powder diagrams and for the infrared absorption spectra, respectively.