ON THE ABSENCE OF INTERSTELLAR ABSORPTION FROM NGC-4319 IN THE SPECTRUM OF MRK-205

We present spectroscopic observations of the quasar Mrk 205 (z(e) = 0.07) in which we attempt to detect Ca II and Na I absorption from the intervening galaxy NGC 4319 (z = 0.0047). Even though the sight-line to the QSO intercepts the disc and halo of the galaxy within approximately-3-5 h-1 kpc of the nucleus on the plane of the sky, we fail to detect Ca II K to a 2 sigma equivalent-width limit of 38 m angstrom. While weak Na I D2 and D1 lines may be present, summed IUE spectra show no evidence of Mg II lambda-2797.9 absorption down to a limit of 0.7 angstrom. These results are in marked contrast to the strengths of Ca II - and to a lesser extent Mg II - lines commonly observed in the halo of our own Galaxy and in the interstellar medium of nearby galaxies probed by bright supernovae. We examine a number of possible explanations for the non-detections.