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Found this website with pics of ches(t)nuts and ergots
http://www.cowboyway.com/What/WhatAreChestnuts.htm
Ergot, what a strange name
There’s a fungus of cereals by that name that causes a disease called Ergotism if consumed; and the chemicals responsible (ergotamines) have long been used in anti-migraine drugs. Ergotamines are closely related to LSD as it ‘appens
Was told years ago that the chestnuts on a horses legs were where the legs were tied together before birth and the chestnut was what remained of the tie.
Having researched this further the general opinion seems to be that both chesnuts and ergots are the vestigial remains of the digits that were present in early ‘multi-toed’ equids. The dew-claw of dogs being a similar example, and in us a comparison could be made with the Coccyx (tail) and Appendix (remains of a once much larger digestive system needed for the efficient digestion of leaves)
The word ergot (in the horse sense) is derived from the French for cock/rooster spur apparently
Early horse; eohippus or something like that? If it’s correct then it, sadly, means that my long term memory is good even though my short term memory [have I just had a cup of tea, better see if any of the mugs feel warm] is non existent. Had a book from London Zoo when I was a child, that showed things like early mammals and [my favourite] an ancestor of the whale that used to live up trees. oldjohn would be proud of this thread..we’ve been to the seaside with it twice so far…..
MoeAgreed about long-term memories remaining fresh, and most after shall we say 50 being dim
Do you remember that chilling final scene in
Edna the Inebriate Woman
with the old lady crying for her mummy?
Regarding whales: current thought based on DNA analysis and molecular genetics has it that the Hippopotamus – ‘river horse’ – is the nearest land-dwelling relative which appearance-wise and habit-wise does have something to commend it
Equids, along with Rhinos and Tapirs belong to a distinct, small and rather archaic Order of mammals: the Perissodactyla or odd-toed ungulates. The large majority of what can loosely be called ‘hoofed mammals’ belong to the Artiodactyla or even-toed ungulates which on the basis of the above postulated relationship with the whales has been renamed by some Cetartiodactyla to include the once distinct Order Cetacea, home of the whales and dolphins
Early horse; eohippus or something like that? If it’s correct then it, sadly, means that my long term memory is good even though my short term memory [have I just had a cup of tea, better see if any of the mugs feel warm] is non existent. Had a book from London Zoo when I was a child, that showed things like early mammals and [my favourite] an ancestor of the whale that used to live up trees. oldjohn would be proud of this thread..we’ve been to the seaside with it twice so far…..
Hello again moe ! The last time I saw him race on TV I thought he had a touch of grey in his tail….soon will be….tempus fugit, and I should know mo !
Moe
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