The characterization of two novel triterpenoid xanthophylls occurring in Streptococcus faecium UNH 564P is described. 2. Both are derived formally, and probably biosynthetically, from the C(30) analogue of neurosporene and have been identified as 4-hydroxy-4,4'-diaponeurosporene and its glucoside, 4-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4,4'-diaponeurosporene. 3. Problems associated with the use of specific glucosidases in defining the anomerism of carotenoid glucosides are discussed.