226 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



As may be seen on examining any well-preserved 

 specimen, it consists of bones and horn. There are 

 three bones, viz. : (l) The foot, pedal, or coffin bone, 

 as it is termed. This is the principal bone, and is 

 made to fit the horn covering (as seen in the speci- 

 men). (2) The navicular bone, which is at the back 

 of the coffin-bone — this latter a small bone of 

 peculiar shape. (3) The shorter pastern -bone, which 

 is made to articulate on the top of the coffin-bone. 

 This bone is, again, met by the longer pastern-bone, 

 but as this latter is somewhat above the foot, we 

 will omit further reference to it here. 



Now, all these bones fit into each other, and are 

 bound and knit together bv ligaments, etc. If the 

 horny portion of the foot is now examined, it will 

 be seen to consist of two parts, viz. : the crust or 

 wall, and the sole. 



In the perfect foot the crust is nearly round. 

 The inner side is slightly less so than the outer. 



The top of the crust is smaller in diameter than 

 the bottom ; a line drawn from the top (which is 

 where the hair and hoof meet, and which is called 

 the 'coronet') to the toe would form, in a perfect 

 foot, an anode of 4 5 ° with the sole. 



If the crust and sole are placed under a magnify- 

 ing glass, it will be seen that, whereas the horn of 

 both consists of a number of fine tubes which are 



