CAMELID.K 297 



is quite unknown in a wild state, but it is reported that wild 

 Bactrian Camels occur in the more remote parts of Turkestan. The 

 latter species is found in a domesticated state throughout a large 

 portion of Turkestan and the neighbouring region, extending as far 

 as the Crimea in the west and to Lake Baikal and Pekin in the 

 east. It is a heavier and more clumsy animal than the Arabian 

 Camel, with thicker hair, shorter legs, and the feet more callous 

 and better adapted to a hard ground. The hair is most developed 

 upon the top of the head, neck, humps, arm, and wrist. Bactrian 

 Camels are occasionally brought over the stupendous mountain 



--<---.■...' 



Fig. 114. — The Bactrian Camel (Camelusjbactriarvus). 



passes south of Yarkand to within a few days' journey of Leh, in 

 Kashmir territory. 



The Arabian Camel is commonly employed as a beast of burden 

 in Africa and India, and has of late years been introduced into 

 Australia for the same purpose ; it is especially valuable in crossing 

 long stretches of arid desert from its power of existing for a con- 

 siderable period of time without water. The female goes fully 

 eleven months with young, and produces but a single calf at a 

 birth, which is suckled for a whole year. In disposition the Camel 

 is surly and subject to furious outbursts of temper, especially during 

 the rutting season. At such periods the male utters a peculiar and 

 highly disagreeable bubbling noise in its throat, Avell known to all 

 who have travelled in India with Camels as their transport. It has 

 been said that the Camel is docile, but Palgrave observes : — 



the two-humped Camel extant, painted on the wall of the Chapter House of 

 "Westminster Abbey, has, however, "Dromedary" inscribed under it. 



