The α-hydroxyacids of sheep brain are shown to consist of a series of straight-chain compounds having 14 to 26 carbon atoms. The acids were isolated from the total lipids of sheep brain and a gas chromatographic analysis was made of the isopropylidene derivatives of the diols obtained on reduction of the α-hydroxyacids. Analyses were also carried out on the mixture of hydrocarbons obtained on reduction of the diols.