Supplement to the History of All Animals. 127
stance of the deer's heart, a certain cartilaginous material is found that very closely resembles bone, being whitish in color and triangular in shape. Because of this, Jean Renou of Paris wrote that such a small bone exists particularly in older deer; due to its shape, hunters call it the "deer’s cross."
In fact, many believe a bone is also found in the hearts of camels. Tostado, in his commentaries on Leviticus, asserted that a bone is found in both the camel's heart and the deer's heart. Later, Jacques Daléchamps, in his annotations on Pliny, seemed to support Tostado's view, despite other Greek and Latin authors denying it. It should be noted, however, that in the hearts of large animals—especially those of great age—the arterial structures can reach such a level of hardness that they easily mimic bony substance. Therefore, we should not be surprised if bones are occasionally reported in the hearts of large, elderly animals. Those who wish to learn more about this should consult the *History of Cloven-Footed Animals*, where this bone is discussed in detail.