4 A X A T O M Y AND I' II V S I O I. O G V F 



This experiment, though conclusive against the opinion of Tauvry, I strengthen by 

 another; in this I kept the legs nut. binding them very firmly under trie sternum, 

 the head being contracted as before, yet I still observed that it breathed, ami as in 

 the former experiment, sometimes with great force. The respiration, therefore, of 



the tortoise lias no more connection with its other motions than that of other ani- 

 mals. But Morgagni, who was, as I-have mentioned in the second dissertation. 

 acquainted with the manner of respiring in frogs, which 1 have given in detail, 

 supposes that the tortoise respires in the same manner; for, speaking of the frog, 

 he says: " Inspiratio autem iis instrumentis per quae inferior buccae pars amplificata 

 animal contracta aerem in pulmoncs compellit;" and then adds, "quin imo id 

 ipsum, dum fluvialem quandam testudinem vivam inciderem, observavi invenique, 

 totam cam partem quae intra cavitatem mandibular inferioris est. multum posse 

 extrorsum curvari ut hinc an- immitti posset, pulmones vero fibrarum rite firman, 

 ut hinc a-r vicissim posset remitti." Notwithstanding the high reputation of Mor- 

 gagni, 1 must dissent from the opinion of the tortoise respiring like the frog. I 

 will not say that none of the genus do respire in this manner, as I have had no 

 opportunity of examining any of the turtles. I wish to be understood as speaking of" 

 the Testudo orbicularis, my observations having chiefly been confined to this species, 

 though 1 think I may say the same of the gra?ca and palustris. Yet the opinion of 

 this celebrated man is supported by Coiter and Varnier saying that, after the 

 sternum is taken off, and the lungs are laid bare, the animal can still innate them. 

 But if, after the sternum was taken off, the peritoneum cut through, and the lungs 

 laid bare, these appeared to Coiter and Varnier to inflate, this might not have pro- 

 ceeded from any power residing in the lungs themselves, nor from any air being 

 impelled into them by the muscles of the throat, hut by the parts in contact with 

 them, as the neck before, anil the muscles behind (which I shall soon describe), 

 shortening them, in which case they would appear more distended, though the 

 quantity of air within was not increased. The tortoises which T opened 1 never 

 observed to inflate their lungs as the- frogs do; nor did the anatomists mentioned 

 by Valentini observe it, for they say, "Pulmones enim depressi remanebent, nee 

 infiabuntur ah ilia aeris attractione quod fieri potuisset tamen ah animali adhuc 

 vivente licet capite truncate, quod ego subito, antequam aperiri, curarem, abscindi 

 jusseram." Yet adds, "Vitalis autem haec testudo actiones habuit horee spatio 

 absque corde sed et absque capite ; nam pedas movit ad factum nostrum et sine 

 eodem quoque retraxit." These are the opinions of the older anatomists; and 

 amongst the moderns I know of none who have said anything on this subject. 

 Being dissatisfied with them, 1 entered into the investigation by actual observation, 

 and opened one- for this purpose. The sternum being taken off with great care, 

 the periosteum presents itself as a strong white membrane like parchment; when 1 

 had cut through this, I found many muscles inserted into it. particularly over the 

 lulse and os pubis, which, in the contracted state of the animal, are not far 

 asunder. Just above tin' OS pubis it is connected to the peritonaeum ; by this means 

 these bones, with their muscles, are enclosed as in a bag, having the peritonaeum 

 ath, and the periosteum above; the scapulae, and their connected bones and 

 muscles, are enclosed in the same manner. The peritonaeum being cut through, 



