in this respect is more indebted to the Ruminantia,
than to the whole animal kingdom besides. Their
milk also, both in a crude state and in the form of
butter and cheese, forms an important article of
human diet; and their fat, (which becomes very
solid when cold,) their horns, hides, hair, or wool,
and bones, are all turned to useful account in the
arts of civilized life. Some of the genera emulate,
if they do not surpass, even the Liquidæ, as beasts of burden and of draught.
The species of this order are widely scattered all over the world, with the exception of Australia. They are arranged in five families, Camelidæ, Moschidæ, Cervidæ, Capradæ, and Bovidæ.
Family I. Camelidæ.
(Camels.)
We have said that this Family deviates in some of its characters, from the rest of the Order. "Instead of having short and abruptly truncated toes, completely enveloped in large hoofs, flattened internally, and forming the sole basis on which the animal rests in progression, the Camels and the Llamas have their toes elongated forwards, and terminating in small horny appendages, surround- ing the last phalanx [or joint] alone, rounded above and on either side, and somewhat curved, while the under surface of the foot on which they tread is covered only by a thickened callous ekan."[1]
The Camelidæ have canines in both jaws; and, contrary to what prevails in the Order, two inci-
- ↑ Bennett’s Gard. and Menag. of Zool. Soc. i. 274.
