MAMMALIA. 447 



They are large animals of the eastern continent, of wliicli two species 

 are known, both completely reduced to a domestic state in the hot 

 regions of Africa and Asia. Wild camels are said to be found in central 

 Asia. 



The two humped camel, C. hactriaims {pi. 108, fig. 1), is originally from 

 central Asia, and descends much less to the south than the dromedary or 

 one humped camel, C. dromedarius {fig. 2), which has spread from Arabia 

 into all the north of Africa, a great part of Syiia, Persia, &c. 



The remains of two fossil species of camels have been detected in Asia 

 about the Sivalic Mountains. Others, but still doubtful, are from France, 

 from the shores of the lied Sea, and South America, if the latter do not 

 belong to the following genus. 



The genus Auchenia differs from the preceding in being destitute of 

 humps on the back. The legs are shorter than in the camel. The neck is 

 long, more vertical. The ears and hoofs are long. The two toes are sepa- 

 rated, or not united as in the camels by a callous sole. Five molars above 

 and four below, on each side. The actual species of this genus belong to 

 the western continent exclusively, where they represent the camels of the 

 eastern. They are confined to the mountainous regions of South America. 

 The lama, A. lama {pi. 109, fig. 6), the most common of the species, is as 

 large as a stag, and was already known at the time of the conquest of 

 Peru by Pizarro in 1534, and indeed was the only domesticated animal, 

 being for the inhabitants of that country what the reindeer is to the Lap- 

 landers. The paco. .1. al2jaca {j)l. 109, fig. 5), is a variety with long woolly 

 hair. Another species, the vicunna, A. vicunna {pi. 109, fig. 7), is of the 

 size of a sheep, covered with fawn-colored wool, extremely soft and fine, of 

 which valuable stufl:"s are manufactured. 



Two fossil species, one of the size of a horse, the other smaller, have been 

 discovered in the caverns of South America. 



The genus Merycotherium was established upon some molar teeth of the 

 upper jaw, which, according to Cuvier, scarcely differs from the above 

 genera. Only one species is known. Its remains vv^ere found in a fossil 

 state in Siberia. 



Fam. 2. Camelopardalid.e. Another eccentric type among ruminants, 

 although not related so much to pachyderms as the camels are. This 

 family contains but one single living genus, Cameloparclalis, in which both 

 sexes have conical horns, always covered with a hairy skin, and which are 

 never shed. The lachrymal holes are wanting, as also the posterior hoofs 

 and the canine teeth. It is one of the most remarkable forms in existence, 

 from the length of its neck, the shortness of its body, and the dispropor- 

 tionate height of its fore legs. The back is much inclined. The only 

 living .species known is the giraffe, C. girafa {pi. 108, fig. 3), which is con- 

 fined to the deserts of Africa. Its hairs are short and grey, sprinkled with 

 fawn-colored angular spots, and a small fawn-colored mane. It is the tallest 

 of all animals, its head being frequently elevated eighteen feet from the 

 ground. Its disposition is gentle, and it feeds upon leaves. 



Fossil remains of several species of this singular genus have been found 



651 



