15 



ordinary structure the author considers as unique, and that it had 

 not fallen previously under the notice of any scientific observer. 



2. Dr Knox verbally communicated some new observations on 

 the structure of the Foot of the Horse. He demonstrated the na- 

 vicular bone of the horse's foot not to be a sesamoid bone, nor a 

 peculiar structure formed expressly for the horse, but the Epi- 

 physis of the Os pedis or coffin-bone. This was proved satisfac- 

 torily by a direct appeal to structure. Besides anticipating re- 

 sults of practical consequence from this discovery, the author is 

 led to observe, that an organ may be displaced and employed to 

 perform different functions in different animals, — that the epi- 

 physes of bones are intended by nature to form separate bones in 

 a vast variety of animals, — and that they may often lead to the 

 discovery of the type of the skeleton in fossil remains of extinct 

 animals. 



3. The reading of a paper was commenced, entitled Ex- 

 perimental Researches regarding certain Vibrations 

 which take place between Metallic Masses having dif- 

 ferent Temperatures. By James D. Forbes, Esq., 

 Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of 

 Edinburgh. 



