Bactrian Camel 277 



Nothine is more remarkable in connection with the Bactrian camel 

 than its capacity for standing extremes of heat and cold, provided always 

 that the climate be dry. Herr O. Lehmann [Zeitschr. ic/ss. Geograp/ilc, 

 I 89 1, p. 27), for example, writes as follows : — 



" The most severe winter cold of Asia cannot prevent the presence 

 of the camel. In West Siberia, from the Kirghiz steppe to the neighbour- 

 hood of Lake Baikal, are camels found. ... In Semipalatinsk the mean 

 winter temperature falls to —21-90.; the most intense cold registered 

 between the years 1854 and i860 was — 49'9°. During his journey 

 Przewalski experienced the most intense cold without losing a single 

 camel. Throughout his whole journey across the Mongolian plateau he 

 daily encountered a temperature of —t,"]"- ■ ■ ■ Again, in Zaidam, where 

 camel-breeding establishments exist, a night temperature of —23-6" was 

 observed, which in November was intensified to 25"2''. In the neighbour- 

 hood of Tarai-nor, on the 50th parallel of north latitude, the Burjsts keep 

 numerous camels, which even in winter are allowed to wander about with- 

 out the slightest protection. . . . Here the camel reaches the 50th parallel, 

 westward of Lake Baikal, on the Upper Yenisei, where the Samoyeds keep 

 both reindeer and camels. Here, indeed, the breeding-area of the camel 

 overlaps that of the reindeer." 



In regard to its capacity for heat, the same author records the following 

 observations : — 



" If the degree of cold that the Bactrian camel can withstand is 

 wonderful, not less remarkable is the heat it can undergo. In the Gobi 

 desert Przewalski took the temperature of the ground in summer and 

 found it to be 62"5" C." 



