38 OBSEKVATIONS ON THE ANATOMY OF 
HuDoxPHi, with a view to discover the poison apparatus, 
if any existed. The known excellency of these distinguished 
naturalists, as comparative anatomists, induces me to think 
that the specimens examined by them must have been ex- 
tremely mutilated, for their descriptions bear no resem- 
blance to the true anatomy of the poison-gland and spur. 
On the heel of each of the hind feet there appears exter- 
nally a spur, much resembling that found in the common 
dunghill-cock. It is strong, semitransparent, and pointed ; 
and there is evidently an aperture at the point, or rather 
on its convex surface, and sloped, as if a small piece had 
been cut out of it, without shortening the spur. Through 
this, a delicate black body, like a bristle, projects ; it seems 
of a horny consistence ; though a strong magnifying glass 
was used, it did not appear to be hollow. On removing the 
integuments carefully, the spur is found to rest by its base 
on a flat bone, placed longitudinally over the tarsal bones^ 
and situated between the lower extremity of the tibia (to 
which it is attached), and the tarsal bone corresponding to 
the inner toe. Its principal connection, however, is prin- 
cipally with the astragalus. In tliis way two joints are 
formed, viz. one between the bone on which the spur rests 
and the other bones of the tarsus, and the other between 
the spur itself and the bone. The motion in both these 
joints is inwards towards the tail, and this is the direction 
which the spur assumes, and the only one in which it can 
possibly wound. If a longitudinal section be made of the 
spur, it will be found to contain a comparatively large 
membranous canal, gradually increasing as w^e proceed to- 
wards the base ; this membranous tube is contained in the 
centre of the spur, which immediately around it has a 
whiter appearance than the more external portions, but 
has no resemblance to bone, as some estimable authors 
have stated : it is merely a iitte firmer than the other parts 
