THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 117 



found in his highest perfection ; and the Bactrian thrives in cUmates as 

 severe as even the coldest portion of our northeastern territory. 



There is, however, it must be admitted, one point of difference be- 

 tween our general climate and that of the eastern continent which has 

 an unfavorable bearing on the question. I refer to the greater moisture 

 of our atmosphere and the greater frequency of rains during the sum- 

 mer season. In general, the countries where the camel thrives have a 

 proper dry season, little or no rain falling during the summer months. 

 But to this rule there are exceptions. The valley of the lower Danube 

 has summer rains, and a very wet autumn, winter, and spring; and 

 many northern Asiatic districts are subject to similar climatic condi- 

 tions. But the objection, whatever may be its force, seems to apply 

 merely to the proportion of the year during which the animal can labor, 

 and not to its influence upon his constitution ; because, it appears that 

 in the cold and damp Russian provinces the camel is less subject to 

 disease, and attains a greater longevity, than in any other part of the 

 world ; and it is remarkable that in the Crimea, at least as I am in- 

 formed, he is little used in the hottest and driest season, because the 

 heat is found too great lor that variety, and his services are most valu- 

 able in winter. 



On alluvial and other soft soils caravans using the camel will, no 

 doubt, be obliged to halt during rains and until the ground is dry ; but 

 upon all other surfaces, one or other of the species may be used with- 

 out i-egard to weather or season ; and as none of the passes of the 

 Rocky mountains are more rugged or steeper than those of Arabia or 

 Tartary, there is every probabihty that he may be advantageously em- 

 ploj^ed over all the known routes between the Mississippi and the Pa- 

 cific coast. 



In reference to the special properties of the^ diflferent varieties it may 

 be observed that, although, as we have already seen, the Arabian camel 

 traverses the roughest routes and climbs exceedingly steep ascents, yet 

 the Bactrian and the cross between the two species are even better 

 fitted for scaling diflicult mountain passes. This difference is, proba- 

 bly, partly due to habit and training ; but the greater elongation of the 

 toe of these breeds, which sometimes projects beyond the cushioned 

 sole and forms a sort of claw, undoubtedly somewhat facilitates climb- 

 ing by giving a grasp to the foot-hold, for which reason the Bactrian 

 anciently w^as, and sometimes still is, called the mountain camel. 



My Russian correspondents, to whom 1 have so often referred, say 

 that the Bactrian is chiefly used for winter transportation, and that his 

 feet require no protection, but, to use their own words, are so formed 

 that he travels well not only on frozen ground, but upon ice and snow. 

 Timkowski saw caravans of this breed cross a glacier; and Bergmann 

 says that, in winter, the Calmucks prefer them to horses for the saddle, 

 because their long legs enable them to wade through deeper snows, 

 and adds that they bear severe cold better than the horse, the ox, or 

 the sheep. 



Father Hue and Pallas give similar accounts of the power of the 

 Bactrian camel ; and Pallas adds that he is used not only in deep snows 

 and half-frozen morasses, but that he fords rapid torrents, and, with a 

 little training, even swims well. 



