united together by a cartilaginous band. 123 



part of the band, and which is not above three inches long. 

 The band is probably two inches thick at the upper part, and 

 above an inch at the lower part. The back part of the band, 

 which is rounded from a sort of thickening at the places where 

 it grows from each body, is not so long as the front part, where 

 it is comparatively flat. The breadth or depth of the band is 

 about four inches. It grows from the lower and centre part of 

 the breast of each boy, being a continuation of the cartilaginous 

 termination of the sternum, or breast-bone, accompanied by 

 muscles and blood-vessels, and enveloped, like every other por- 

 tion of the body, with skin, &c. At present this band is not 

 very flexible ; and, according to Mr Hunter, who has known 

 the youths for six years, the cartilaginous substance of the up- 

 per part is becoming gradually harder, the change having been 

 considerable within the last four years. The twins have only 

 one navel, which is placed about the centre of the band, equi- 

 distant from both bodies. From the nature of the band, and 

 the manner in which it grows from each boy, it is impossible 

 that they should be in any other position in relation to each 

 other, but side by side like soldiers, or coming up a little to 

 front each other, though their natural position is that of face to 

 face. Their arms and legs are perfectly free to move. There 

 is no connection between them but this band, and their proxi- 

 mity seems in no way to incommode either. Each of them, whe- 

 ther standing, sitting, or moving, generally has his arm round 

 the neck or waist of the other ; and when this is the case, you 

 observe that they are perfectly well-formed and straight. When 

 they take the arm from this position, so close are they kept to- 

 gether, that their shoulders cannot be held straight ; and the 

 near shoulder of each being obliged to be held down or up to 

 allow them room to stand, gives them the appearance of being 

 deformed ; but two straighter or more flexible bodies can 

 scarcely be seen. 



In their ordinary motions they resemble two persons waltzing, 

 more than any thing else we know of In a room they seem to 

 roll about as it were, but when they walk to any distance, they 

 proceed straight forward with a gait like other people. As they 

 rose up or sat down, or stooped, their movements reminded us 

 occasionally of two playful kittens with their legs round each 



