MERLSTK- VARIATION. 



[PART i. 



i-ies usually consisting of two pieces in the Ox, were here represented 

 by one piece (c and c 8 ), though externally the bone seemed to be in two 

 pieces. The internal portion (<) approximately corresponding in posi- 

 tion with the normal ento-cuneiform was imperfectly and irregularly 

 divided by a groove into two parts. The metatarsus or cannon-bone at 

 its proximal md was almost normal, but from about its middle it 

 ^pread out into three parts as shewn in the figure, each part ending in 

 an articular surface and bearing a digit, but the trochlear ridge for the 

 innermost digit (ac) was not quite so large as those for the others. 

 From the skeleton it seems clear that this innermost digit could not 

 have readied the ground. 



Of the three hoofs the middle one was the 

 largest, the other two being nearly equal to each 

 other in size. The outermost hoof curved inwards 

 and the innermost hoof curved outwards. The 

 middle hoof also curved outwards, but less so tlian 

 tlmt of a normal </i</it ///, being rather flutter 

 underneath, and having its two edges more nearly 

 symmetrical. The accessory hoofs ('ergots' of 

 French writers) were " in their usual place, on 

 either side of and behind the foot." This speci- 

 men was originally described by GOODMAN, NE- 

 VILLE, Jour. Anat. Phys., 1868, Ser. 2. i. p. 109. 



The skeleton of the foot is in the Cambridge 



I "niversity .Museum of Pathology. 



In answer to my inquiries Mr G. DAINTREE of 



Chatteris, the owner of this animal, kindly gave 



me the following information. This cow was 



bought in 1SG1 and from her a three-toed strain 



arose, of which about ten generations were pro- 

 duced. The three-toed condition appeared in 



both males and females, but no three-toed bull 



was kept, so that the descent was ivholli/ f //rough 



/' -mules. About two in three calves born of this 



strain had three toes. In one case only were 



there three toes on the fore feet. The third toe 



was never walked on. The breed was got rid of 



lieeause it was at last represented only by males, 



the last being sold in 11SS7. The beasts were as 



good as any other cattle of the same class. 



559. Calf. Left manus having three dibits, "-ener- 



O O ' O 



ally resembling the last case. The external diint 

 is nearly normal. The middle digit is very thick, 

 and is somewhat twisted and llexed. Its lingual 

 phalanx is not specially curved in either direction 

 but it is not truly symmetrical. The innermost 

 di'_rit is thin and short and its ungual phalanx is 

 not much curved. In this specimen there is a 



af. 



(Ml 



FIG. 115. Right 

 hind foot of heifer, 

 No. 558. 



A*, astragalus. 

 c/c, calcaneum. c, 

 c- 3 , parts of a large 

 united bone repre- 

 senting cuneiforms. 



Ill, IV, (I--, letters 

 affixed to illustrate 

 the hypothesis that 

 III and IV represent 



c i- T . . these digits of the 



decided appearance of division in the distal epi- n()rmal> ; md that HC 



phvsis of the metacarpal of the middle diLMt ; s ;ui accessory digit. 



(?III). Coll ,v///v/. J/IM., Ter>if. Series, No. :?on. ' 



