222 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



their maugled bodies, I have seen the callope (caUipee, a 

 part of the flesh), wheu going to be seasoned, with pieces 

 of their flesh ready to cut into steaks, vehemently contract 

 with great reluctancy, rise against the knife, and sometimes 

 the whole mass of flesh in a visible tremulation and concus- 

 sion. To him who first sees, it seems strange and admir- 

 able." 



This same old-time writer records of the turtle, that " it 

 has three hearts ;" and to this superabundance of the vital 

 organs he ascribes its wonderful " tenacity of life." 



It is really true that hours after the turtle has been cut 

 up the flesh will, when salt is sprinkled upon it, contract 

 violently, and jerk and quiver in a manner that looks, to 

 say the least of it, rather uncanny. 



The true explanation is, not actual vitality, but some 

 peculiar quality of the muscles and nerves by which gal- 

 vanic or electric action is generated by the action of salt, 

 or, as we have sometimes seen it, by hot water. The vio- 

 lent twitching is not pleasant to look at ; but is not as 

 '* Ye Ancient Mariner," "T. A.," would have us believe, 

 "a sensation of life." 



