260 ANATOMY OF THE DOMESTIC FOWL 



of the dried corpuscle. Each red cell offers a certain absorbing sur- 

 face for oxygen. As the blood circulates through the delicate walls 

 of the lungs and the air-sacs, it takes up oxygen; the blood at the 

 same time delivers to the air carbon dioxid which has been brought 

 from the tissues where active cell metabolism has been going on. 

 This oxygen taken up by the erythrocyte forms a loose chemical 

 union and is known as oxy-hemoglobin. In this form it is carried 

 to the tissues of the body where it is given up by the erythrocyte to 

 the tissues where oxidation is going on. 



Hemoglobin is a crystallizable proteid substance, containing carbon, 

 hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and iron. 



Formation of the Cells of the Blood. The red blood cells are 

 formed in the red marrow of the bone. 



Polymorphonuclear leucocytes are formed in the red marrow of 

 the bones, and the lymphocytes in the lymph glands and lymph 

 follicles. 



The bird carries a normal body temperature of 105 to 107 F. 

 The average temperature of 50 mature hens and cocks was 106.8 F. 

 The blood is of a deep red color. 



Composition of the Blood. The average composition of the blood 

 of the domestic fowl as given by Owen, is as follows: 



Whole shed blood: 



Water 780 parts 



Clot 157 parts 



Albumin and salts 63 parts 



1000 parts 

 Moist blood cells: 



Average total weight 456 . 69 



Water 342.52 



Solid matter 97-5 



Plasma: 



Total weight 543-3 Parts 



Water 495-72 parts 



Solid matter 30. 72 parts 



Blood when drawn and allowed to stand soon coagulates. In 

 the blood of birds this process is very rapid, the blood coagulating, 

 in most instances, in about one-half minute. Blood coagulates only 

 in the presence of calcium salts. 



During life, the liquor sanguinis is termed plasma; but after it 

 has been shed from the body and coagulation has taken place, the 



