For one part of the blood consists mainly of water
and therefore does not coagulate, this process occurring only in the
other and earthy constituent, that is to say in the fibres, while
the fluid part is evaporating.
Some at any rate of the animals with watery blood have a keener
intellect than those whose blood is of an earthier nature. This is due
not to the coldness of their blood, but rather to its thinness and
purity; neither of which qualities belongs to the earthy matter. For
the thinner and purer its fluid is, the more easily affected is an
animal's sensibility. Thus it is that some bloodless animals,
notwithstanding their want of blood, are yet more intelligent than
some among the sanguineous kinds. Such for instance, as already
said, is the case with the bee and the tribe of ants, and whatever
other animals there may be of a like nature. At the same time too
great an excess of water makes animals timorous. For fear chills the
body; so that in animals whose heart contains so watery a mixture
the way is prepared for the operation of this emotion. For water is
congealed by cold. This also explains why bloodless animals are, as
a general rule, more timorous than such as have blood, so that they
remain motionless, when frightened, and discharge their excretions,
and in some instances change colour.
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