376 



MERISTIC VARIATION. 



[part I. 



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 



Cambridge 



have reached the ground. 



Of the three hoofs the middle one was the 

 lai'gest, 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 titan 

 that of a normal digit III, being rather flatter 

 underneath, and having its tivo 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 

 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. 



559. Calf. Left manus having three digits, gener- 

 ally resembling the last case. The external digit 

 is neai'ly 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 

 not much curved. In this specimen there is a 

 decided appearance of division in the distal epi- 

 physis of the metacarpal of the middle digit 

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



ac. 



Fig. 115. Right 

 hind foot of heifer, 

 No. 558. 



As, astragalus. 

 etc, calcaneuin. c, 

 c 3 , parts of a large 

 united bone repre- 

 senting cuneiforms. 



Ill, IV, ac, letters 

 affixed to illustrate 

 the hypothesis that 

 III and IV represent 

 these digits of the 

 normal, and that ac 

 is an accessory digit. 



