CAMELIDIE, a family of ruminant mam mals, including the Old World camels (genus Camelus) and New World guanacos and vi cugnas (genus Llama), as the existing remainder of a divergent group formerly closely connected both in structure and in geographical distribu tion. It forms a distinct section of the Rumincin lia named Tylopoda, in reference to the character of the feet, in which only the third and fourth toes are developed, and these are embedded in a cutaneous pad, forming a broad elastic sole to the foot. The two tnetapodial or bones of each of the long limbs are separated for a considerable distance at the lower end, where the articular surfaces, instead of being pulley-like, with deep ridges and grooves, as in other recent split-hoofed anitnals (Artiodae tylo), are rounded and smooth. The toes ter minate in small nails, and the weight of the animal rests upon the padded sole of the foot instead of on hoofs, in adaptation to the soft, sandy soil of deserts, in which this race of animals seems to have lived ever since its origin. The dentition. of the prolonged jaws
has certain peculiarities. The full number of incisors is present in youth, but in the upper jaw these disappear, except the outermost, which persist through life, while those in the lower jaw are procumbent. Canines are pres ent in both jaws. The molars are of the seleno dont type. The neck is very long and flexuous; the shoulders are high; and the hinder part of the body is much contracted and drooping in appearance. The tail is well developed and the skin is clothed with long, shaggy hair. The nostrils are high and may be closed against the admission of dust; and the lips are pro longed and flexible. There are no horns or antlers in either sex. The interior anatomy is 'peculiar, principally in the character of the digestive organs, described in the article