44 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 11 



when a fowl is bled to the point of weakness, he soon recovers and 

 after a lapse of a few days seems to have nearly replaced the 

 lost blood. The wing was raised from the body, and the feathers 

 plucked from the under surface which was then cleaned with 1% 

 tricresol. The fowl was laid upon its side, being held do\^Ti by 

 the left forearm of the operator while the upper wing was grasped 

 and extended backward by the left hand. Then with small, sharp- 

 pointed scissors, a small incision was made in the brachial artery 

 or vein just where it passes over the flexor surface of the elbow. 

 If only a small quantity of blood was wanted, the vein was 

 opened; while if a larger quantity was needed, the artery was 

 opened. As the vessel was opened the blood welled up into the 

 natural receptacle formed by the elbow and the membrane of 

 the wing. As this anatomical cup filled the blood was drawn up 

 into a sterile Luer hypodermic syringe, without any needle at- 

 tached, and immediately transferred to a small sterile test tube. 

 A glass Luer syringe is preferable, because it can readily be 

 operated by one hand, and is also readily cleaned, when it is 

 desired to bleed a number of fowls. By following this method, 

 it was found that 5 e.e. or even more, of blood could be taken 

 from a full-grown fowl without causing it any apparent incon- 

 venience. Even when the artery is opened the haemorrhage 

 stops very soon, because of the great coagulability of the blood, 

 and if it does not do so the operator can readily stop it by fairly 

 strong flexion of the wing at the elbow. In a long series of 

 bleedings only two fowls were lost, one from excessive bleeding, 

 and one from an infection of the wing leading to gangrene. 



