376 



MERISTIC VARIATION. 



[part I. 



Uc 



559. 



series usually consisting of two pieces in the Ox, were here represented 

 by one piece (c and c 3 ), though externally the bone seemed to be in two 

 pieces. The internal portion (c) 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 end was almost normal, but from about its middle it 

 spread 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 reached 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 than 

 that of a normal digit III, being rather flatter 

 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 



University 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 1861 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 wholly through 

 females. 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 



because it was at last represented only by males, 



the last being sold in 1887. The beasts were as 



good as any other cattle of the same class. 



Calf. 



ally resembling the last case 



is nearly normal. The middle digit is very thick, 



and is somewhat twisted and flexed. Its ungual 



phalanx is not specially curved in either direction 



but it is not truly symmetrical. The innermost 



digit is thin and short and its ungual phalanx is the hypothesis that 



not much curved. In this specimen there is a HI and IV represent 



, . •■ j j, ,. . . . ,, ,. . , . these dibits ot the 



decided appearance or division in the distal epi- norma i and that ac 



physis of the metacarpal of the middle digit is an accessory digit. 



(?III). Coll. Surg. Mus., Terat. Series, No. 300. 



gener- 



Left manus having three digits, 



?he external digit 



uan 



Km) 



Fig. 115. Right 

 hind foot of heifer, 

 No. 558. 



As, astragalus. 

 clc, calcaneum. c, 

 c s , parts of a large 

 united bone repre- 

 senting cuneiforms. 



Ill, IV, ac, letters 

 affixed to illustrate 



