The Skeleton. 17 



noticed by standing squarely behind the animal. The 

 ischium, the next largest bone of the trio, situated 

 behind the ilium, is somewhat similar in shape ; only 

 one angle is seen and that forms the point of the buttock 

 or pin bone; sometimes this protuberance is broken off, 

 to detect it a side view is necessary. The two ischii are 

 united to form the back (posterior) part of the floor of 

 the pelvic cavity, in sheep and cattle a notch is formed 

 at their points of union. The pubis is a fiat bone and 

 with its fellow forms the fore (anterior) part of the pelvic 

 floor ; on the pubis rests the bladder. The ischii and 

 pubes of cattle, sheep, swine, etc. , are slow to grow 

 together, consequently there is considerable allowance 

 for widening of the pelvic cavity, a condition of great 

 service to these animals when bringing forth their young ; 

 in mature horses these bones are fused together, no play 

 is possible in that direction. 



All three bones unite at one point to form a deep 

 socket, known as the acetabulum, which receives the 

 head of the thigh bone (femur). This joint is a deep 

 ball and socket with the usual ligaments to support it, 

 etc., in the horse (all solipeds) a ligament is present 

 which is not found in cattle, hence we account for the 

 side kicks from cattle, mule. 



The hip joint is quite prominent in dairy breeds and is 

 known as the thurl. The thigh bone (femur) is very 

 strong, slopes down and forward, and at its lower end is 

 enlarged to form two joint surfaces, one of which is 

 pulley-like, the inner lip of the pulley surface being the 

 larger. On the pulley surface plays the stifle bone 

 (patella or knee cap of man), owing to the conformation 



