18(^ LAW OF STMPLTFTCATIOX OF FEET. 



the metatarsal of the third toe, to which are articulated the 

 three phalanges of the same toe, m, the last phalanx being 

 expanded to sustain the hoof. The small bone called 

 "split-bone," by veterinarians, articulated to the "meso- 

 cuneiform," is the stunted metatarsal of the second toe, ii; 

 the outer " splint-bone," articulated to the " cuboides," is 

 the similarly stunted metatarsal of the fourth toe, iv. 



In the foot of the ox (Fig. 86), the cuboides, Z>, presents 

 a marked increase of size, equalling the ectocuneiform, c<?, 

 which is proportionally diminished. The single bone, 

 called " cannon-bone," which articulates with both these 

 carpal bones, does not answer to the single " cannon- 

 bone" in the horse, but to the metatarsals of both the 

 third and the fourth digits; it is accordingly found to 

 consist of those two distinct bones in the foetal rumin- 

 ant, and there are a few species in which that distinction 

 is retained. Marks of the primitive division are always 

 perceptible, especially at its lower end, where there 

 are two distinct joints or condyles, for the phalanges 

 of the third, ^V/, and fourth, iv^ toes. In the horse, the 

 rudiments of the two stunted toes were their upper ends 

 or metatarsal bones ; in the ox, they consist of their lower 

 ends or phalanges ; these form the " spurious hoofs," and 

 are parts of the second, tV, and fifth, v, toes (Fig. 36). The 

 rhinoceros more closely resembles the horse in the bony 

 structure of its hind-foot (Fig. 37); the ectocuneiform is 

 still the largest of the three lowest tarsal bones, although 

 the mesocuneiform, ciii^ and the cuboids, &, have gained 

 increased dimensions in accordance with the completely 

 developed toes which they support ; these toes we there- 

 fore recognize as being answerable to the rudiments of 

 the second, ?*/', and fourth, iv^ in the horse, the principal 

 toe being still the third. Hi, The hippopotamus (Fig. 38) 

 chiefly differs from the ox, as the rhinoceros differs from 



