12 



BLOOD OF CHELONIANS. 



the clot for several hours, another small clot separated in the specific gravity bottle, 

 having the characteristic appearance of fibrin. 



The cavity of the abdomen contained half a fluidounce of clear serous fluid, 

 which coagulated upon standing. 



Specific gravity of the blood 

 " " serum 



Solid constituents in 1000 parts of blood 

 " " " serum 



" in serum of 1000 parts of blood 



Water in 1000 parts of blood 

 " " serum 



1000 parts of blood contained — 



Water ..... 

 Blood-corpuscles (dried organic constituents) 

 Albumen, fatty and extractive matter 

 Fibrin ..... 

 Fixed saline constituents 



1000 parts of blood contained — 



Moist blood-corpuscles 289.52 • 



( Solid constituents 



Liquor sanguinis 



no.48 -l"^^^'' ■ 



(.Solid constituents 



1032.5 

 1014.8 

 120.81 

 49.44 ■ 

 45.82 

 8T9.19 

 950.56 



879.19 

 69.99 

 44.63 

 2.61 

 3.58 



217.14 

 72.38 



662.05 

 48.43 



11. Chehniira serjyentma, I^innseus {msile) . Snajjping Turtle. July 16. 

 The viscera of this Chelonian are represented in Fig. 8. 



This reptile had been captured four days, during the greater portion of which 

 time it was placed in water and supplied with Purslain [Portulacca oleracea). 



The portions of blood drawn first coagulated more slowly than those drawn last. 

 We have found this phenomenon to occur with all animals whose blood coagulated 

 sufficiently slow to admit of a comparison of the times of coagulation. It appears 

 to be an effort of nature to arrest hemorrhages. The manner in which the albumen 

 of the blood is converted into fibrin is unknown. From the rapidity of the change 

 during bleeding, it appears to have some connection with the nervous system. 

 Whether it be due to nervous influence, or the action of the capillaries upon the 

 albumen, or the mutual reactions between the corpuscular floating glands of the 

 blood, remains to be demonstrated. 



The coagulum was small and inconsistent. 



The great majority of the blood-corpuscles settled to the bottom of the vessel, 

 and were not included in the clot. In these respects, the blood of the Chelonura 

 serpentina resembled that of Fishes and Frogs. 



The serum was of a light yellow color, and, when treated with sulphuric acid 

 and gently heated, the characteristic musky odor of the animal was developed. 



Specific gravity of the blood 

 " " serum 



Amount of blood obtained 



1025.5 

 1013.6 

 700 grains 



