THE ox's HOOF. 421 



distinguish in it a wall and a sole. Thd wall can again l:>e 

 divided into an outer and an inner part. The portion furthest 

 from tlie cleft of the foot, i.e., the outer part, is convex and 

 somewhat curved inwards at the toe. Thci portion towards 

 the cleft is smooth and usually sliglitly concave. The two 

 sides of the wall meet in a blunt, somewhat elongated anterior 

 border. The upper part of the horny wall or perioplic ring 

 is formed by the perioplic band and runs backwards to 

 form the rounded horny bulbs. The coronary band rests in 

 a flat, broad furrow at the upper part of the wall. The horny 

 laminie of tlie wall correspond in number and size to the 

 sensitive laminaj. The space Ijelow marginated by the wall is 

 enclosed by the horny sole, which in front is pointed and very 

 strong and towards the back becomes continuous with the horny 

 bulbs. The horny bulbs of the two toes are sometimes con- 

 nected by a bridge of soft horn. The wall is imited to the 

 horny sole through the medium of the white line as in the 

 horse. Needless to say that in oxen, in which the walls are 

 not bent inwards as in the horse, the bars are wanting. Th(» 

 claws of the hind-foot are somewhat longer and more slender 

 than those of the fore-foot. 



