ORDER RUMINANTIA; GENERAL CHARACTERS. 



285 



short lateral toes in some groups, each having three phalanges, 

 connected with a small splint-bone like that of the Horse 

 (Fig. 167). Now in the Camels, the toes, 

 instead of being short and strong, and abruptly 

 terminated by hoofs which afford a flattened sur- 

 face for the limb to bear upon, are lengthened, 

 and are only tipped with small hoofs, the bearing 

 Surface being a large pulpy sole or pad, covered 

 with a hard callous skin, and placed like a cushion 

 beneath the toes. The use of this peculiar con - 

 formation will be apparent, when the habits of the 

 Camel are considered. 



255. The name of this order is derived from 

 the singular process of rumination, which the 

 food undergoes in all the animals composing it ; 

 as the nature of this process has been already 

 described, it need not be here repeated. (See 99, 

 and ANIM. PHYSIOL., 198). But we may stop and second rows of 



,. . ., ,, _ . . tarsal bones ;c,me- 



for an instant to consider the purpose of this tatarsai or canon- 

 curious provision: which has a very interesting b " n f ; **** pti 



J phalangeal bones. 



connection with the rest of their organisation. The 

 Ruminantia, taken as a group, are timid, and are destitute of 

 powerful means of defence against their foes ; seeking safety in 

 flight, when alarmed, rather than stopping to defend themselves. 

 A large proportion of them are natives of tropical regions, where 

 they are liable to the attacks of the larger beasts of prey. Now 

 their food, consisting as it does of grasses and herbage of 

 various kinds, which contain a considerable amount of woody 

 fibre, requires to be thoroughly masticated, before it can be 

 properly digested. "When feeding on the pastures they frequent, 

 they are subject to many alarms ; and if they were compelled to 

 spend a considerable time in masticating their food before 

 swallowing it, they would often be in danger of starvation, by 

 being obliged to leave their pasture before their wants were 

 supplied. But by their power of subsequently returning their 

 food to the mouth, and chewing it at their leisure, they are 

 enabled to dispense entirely with any mastication, previously to 



