308 STRUCTURE OF TIIE SHEEP. 



to admit a small probe ; this is the entrance of the canal just 

 spoken of, which presently enlarges, and passes first down- 

 wards, and then winds round in a semicircular direction, 

 ending in a sort of cul de sac. On cutting into this canal it 

 appears to be a duplication of the skin ; its internal surface 

 is lined with hair, and there is found a considerable quantity 

 of detached hair mixed with a waxy secretion in the canal, 

 secreted by various glands. This hair is no doubt excreted 

 from the internal surface, and which, from the smallncss of 

 the opening, cannot escape, or rather is detained for a useful 

 purpose. The use of this canal thus stuffed with hair is self- 

 evident. We have mentioned the great motion possessed by 

 this pastern-joint, which is so great as to threaten to chafe 

 the skin by the friction of one side against the other. It is 

 to prevent or ward off' this friction that these biflex canals, or 

 rather hair-stuff'ed cushions, are provided ; and they act, indeed, 

 precisely like the fenders which are lowered down the side of a 

 vessel to prevent it coming into contact with another. The ox 

 possesses little or no motion in this joint, and consequently re- 

 quires no such provision to prevent friction. The benevolence 

 of Nature is strikingly exemplified by this simple structure. 



This part occasionally suff'ers from the insinuation of dirt 

 and sand, and is subject to inflammation and ulceration, which 

 sometimes prove very troublesome. 



THE HIND EXTREMITIES. 



The haunch is formed by three bones in the young subject, 

 but these bones soon become consolidated into one, and is 

 called the pelvis or basin, within which is situated the blad- 

 der and part of the organs of generation. Viewing this bone 

 from below it appears pretty nearly circular within, but exter- 

 nally the circle is broken by various irregular processes, two 

 of which project upwards on each side the spine which lies 

 between ; then two others extend backwards below the tail 

 and are called the haunch bones, and two project laterally, and 

 are termed the hips. These bones project but little in a well- 

 formed sheep, being altogether clothed with flesh and fat. 



The bones of the pelvis extend downwards and backwards 

 from the spine, and towards the inferior part form on each 

 side a deep cap or sock(;t, into which fits the upper part of 

 the thigh bone, which is formed like a ball so as to fit into 

 the socket. The thigh bone, or fcBmur, extends forward, and 

 is relatively longer in the sheep than in the horse. It is the 



