306 STRUCTURE OF THE SHEEP. 



the pastern-joint, though much less in the fetlock ; indeed 

 the action of the former is quite as much as the latter. 



Though not belonging to the skeleton, this will yet be the 

 most convenient situation for noticing the structure of the 

 other parts of 



THE FOOT. 



The bones dividing at the fetlock, the tendons likewise, 

 both before and behind, become divisible, and there are con- 

 sequently two flexor tendons or benders and two extensors to 

 each division. The former, as in the horse, consists of a 

 perforans and a perforatus, the latter forming a sheath for 

 the perforans just above the fetlock, in which it continues to 

 the small pastern-bone, into which the perforatus is inserted. 

 The perforans then glides over the back of the navicular 

 bone, which forms a sort of pulley, and is inserted into the 

 lower and back part of the coffin or foot-bone. Of the ex- 

 tensors one is inserted into the upper and front part of the 

 small pastern, and the other is continued to the coffin-bone. 

 These bones are connected together by capsular and other 

 ligaments, and there is one very strong one in particular, which 

 passes from the lower, inner, and anterior part of the large 

 pastern in a perpendicular direction to the inner and back part 

 of the coffin-bone. To the lower and back part of the coffin- 

 bone is attached an elastic pad of a fibrous and ligamentous na- 

 ture, which receives the greater part of the superincumbent 

 weight, and by yielding to it takes off the jar. It rests on 

 the horny heels of the foot, which thus supports the principal 

 part of the animal's weight, very little resting on the anterior 

 portion of the foot. It is thus very evident that there is a 

 considerable difference both in the structure and functions of 

 the various parts of the foot in the sheep and in the horse. 

 In the latter we find that the crust or wall of the foot is con- 

 nected to the coffin-bone by means of a double arrangement 

 of a vast number of horny and fibrous plates, the former 

 connected with the inside of the crust, and the latter with the 

 coffin-bone. These laminae, as they are called, are dove- 

 tailed together, and thus the connection is rendered of great 

 strength ; and the vast extent of surface thus afforded, and 

 the elasticity of the parts, obviate concussion, and afford, 

 indeed, an admirable spring and a principal cause of the 

 elastic tread of the animal. In the ox we observe an ar- 

 rangement somewhat similar, though the laminae are much 



