Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/P 62
Scientific nameGallus gallus
CollectionHunterian
CategoryDry preparations
Object nameHead, Transplantation, Experimental, Union of Different Parts, Mounted dry bone and tissue
DescriptionA cock's head with a leg-spur growing from the comb following its successful transplantation.
The spur had grown into a long thick horn which appears to have been cut to enable the cock to feed normally. Hunter is known to have carried out experiments on the grafting of spurs as well as other kinds of graft in the spring and summer of 1771. Some of these were described by William Irvine in a letter to the Professor of Anatomy in Glasgow, Thomas Hamilton (1728-1782) dated 17 June 1771. Irvine wrote that Hunter 'is tomorrow to perform an operation of this kind [grafting spurs] before several gentlemen. He has procured a couple of Jack Apes [? Jackasses]. Into the forehead of the one he is to graft the horn of a calf, and into the other the horn of a young deer and he proposes, as Gavin Pettigrew has long complained of want of money, to send them to him and doubt not that by shewing them up and down the country he will make an immense fortune.'
Production date 1771
Preparator
Owner/user
presented
Related objectsRCSHC/P 63
Physical Location
Location
Not on public display: contact museum for access conditions
Physical Information
Physical descriptionDry preparation of tissue and bone mounted in perspex cuboid container.
Materialperspex
Dimensions
whole height: 165 mm
whole width: 144 mm
whole depth: 118 mm
whole weight: 366 g
whole width: 144 mm
whole depth: 118 mm
whole weight: 366 g
Bibliography
SourceProger 1966-1972
Vol. 1, page 29-30.
NotesText taken from Stanley & Paget (1846-9), and Paget (1882-5).
TranscriptThe head of a cock, dried. A spur transplanted into the comb of the cock has grown into a kind of horn, which is about three-fourths of an inch thick at its base, and about six inches long, curved forwards and to the left side, and deeply bifid as its extremity. The ends of the portions into which the spur is divided appear to have been cut short to enable the bird to bring its beak to the ground in feeding, and perhaps also to prevent their pressing upon the side of its neck.
SourceHunter 1861
Vol. 1, pages 55-56
NotesIn his manuscript notes Hunter describes experiments to establish the 'combative principle' in animals, by transplanting spurs from cockerels to hens and vice versa. He concludes that the growth of the spur correlates to the strength of the 'combative principle' in the animal as a whole, and that in general this element is weaker in hens than in cocks.
SourceClift 1830 Part 2
NotesCatalogue number is 583.
TranscriptThe head of a cock, into the comb of which a spur, apparently from another fowl, has been transplanted. [The spur has acquired a most unusual size, and curling obliquely forwards, has separated into two nearly equal portions, that diverge from each other. They seem to have been occasionally cut shorter, to prevent the destruction of the bird by pressure on its neck, and also to allow it to feed, as it could not otherwise have reached the ground with its bill. Each portion is, at the least, six or eight times the size of the spurs on the legs of the bird. The legs are also preserved, on account of the morbid appearances they present, in a considerable enlargement about the joints, by ossific deposit; and the disposition they express for the formation of horny substance externally.]
