AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



273 



is also inserted into the os calcis. It is to be observed, 

 that the origin of the latter was anterior to that of the for- 

 mer, but its insertion posterior, so that these lateral liga- 

 ments cross each other in the form of an x ■ The external 

 articulating protuberance of the astragalus on which the 

 tibia revolves, has, as has been already stated, a nearly cir- 

 cular outline, and the attachments of the ligaments just 

 described, are at points on the outside of the os calcis, which 

 would lie nearly in the circumference of that circle, were 

 it continued from the articulating surface; so that each of 

 these ligaments has one of its extremities fixed in a certain 

 point of the circumference, while its opposite extremity re- 

 volves during the motion of the joint, nearly in the circum- 

 ference of the same circle. This observation applies like- 

 wise to the two lateral ligaments on the inner side of the 

 joint, which have nearly the same relation to each other, 

 and to the general contour of the joint, as that just des- 

 cribed; so it is obvious, that during the rotation of the 

 joint, as the origins of these ligaments move along the same 

 circumference ip which their attachments are fixed, the 

 ligaments will be m,ost stretched when they correspond to 

 diameters of that circle. 



Now it is so arranged that this happens at the same time 

 for all, and consequently the ligaments on each side corres- 

 pond not merely as to direction, but as to the point of time 

 they become most stretched, which is nearly at the moment 

 that the joint has no tendency to move either way, and at 

 that moment, it is to be observed, that although the liga- 

 ments are most tense, and of course react on their points of 

 attachment with greatest force, yet this produces no motion, 

 as the force is exerted in a direction perpendicular to the 

 circumference; but as soon as the tibia is moved beyond 

 this point of inaction for the ligament, the latter, no longer 

 representing diameters, by their contractile force evidently 

 tend to accelerate the motion; and as they all act in the 

 same direction, and are assisted by the shape of the articu- 

 lating surfaces, a sudden motion of flexion or extension is 

 thus produced. 



The preceding explantion supposes the ligaments to pos- 

 sess, contrary to the nature of ligaments, in general, a cer- 

 tain degree of elasticity, which was evidently the case in 

 all, but particularly in the most deep-seated of those on 

 the inner side of the joint, which, therefore, appears most 

 concerned in producing the sudden motion, whether of 

 flexion or extension. — Edin. Philos. Jour. 



There is no fish which yields so much oil in proportion to 

 its size, as the Porpoise, and therefore renders its capture 

 an object of consideration; and it is said, that whenever a 

 Porpoise happens to be wounded, all the rest of its compa- 

 nions will immediately fall upon, and devour it. 

 3 Z 



THE BREAD FRUIT. 



The bread-fruit, originally found in the south-eastern 

 parts of Asia, and the islands of the Pacific, though now in- 

 troduced into the tropical parts of the western continent, 

 and the West India islands, is one of the most interesting, 

 as well as singular productions of the vegetable kingdom. 

 There are two species of it: the bread-fruit, properly so 

 called [Artocarpus incisa), with the leaves deeply gashed 

 or divided at the sides, which grows chiefly in the islands; 

 and the Jack fruit, or Jaca tree [Artocarpus integrifolia,) 

 ■\vith the leaves entire, which grows chiefly on the main 

 land of Asia. 



The bread-fruit is a beautiful as well as a useful tree: the 

 trunk rises to the height of about forty feet, and, in a full 

 grown tree, is from a foot to fifteen inches in diameter; the 

 bark is ash-coloured; full of little chinks, and covered by 

 small knobs; the inner bark is fibrous, and is used in the 

 manufacture of a sort of cloth; and the wood is smooth, 

 soft; and of a yellow colour. The branches come out in a 

 horizontal manner, the lowest ones about ten or twelve feet 

 from the ground; and they become shorter and shorter as 

 they are nearer and nearer the top: the leaves are divided 

 into seven or nine lobes, about eighteen inches or two feet 

 long, and are of a lively green. The tree bears male and 

 female flowers, the males among the upper leaves, and the 

 females at the extremities of the twigs. When full grown, 

 the fruit is about nine inches long, heart-shaped, of a green- 

 ish colour, and marked with hexagonal warts, formed into 

 facets. The pulp is white, partly farinaceous and partly 

 fibrous; but, when quite ripe, it becomes yellow and juicy. 

 The whole tree, when in a green state, abounds with a viscid 

 milky juice, of so tenacious a nature as to be drawn out in 

 threads. 



In the island of Otaheite and other places, where the 

 bread-fruit forms the chief support of the people, there are, 

 as is the case with cultivated vegetables in all countries, 

 many varieties; only two, however, are very difierent from 

 each other — that which contains seeds in the fruit, and that 

 which contains none. The variety with seeds is much in- 

 ferior to the other, being more fibrous, containing less farina, 

 and not so pleasant to the taste; it is, therefore, not culti- 

 vated, though, in cases of need it is roasted and eaten. 

 Whether the seedless sort has been produced wholly by cul- 

 tivation it is not easy, and would not be of much importance, 

 to ascertain : it is the one cultivated in the South Sea is- 

 lands; it was originally found only there; and the tree was 

 not in much repute till these islands were discovered. 



The bread-fruit continues productive for about eight 

 months in the year: such is its abundance, that two or three 

 trees will suffice for a man's yearly supply, a store being 



