1 72 



THE REASON WHY 



" Or camels knelt 

 To take their loads, or horsemen scour'd the plain." CAMPBELL. 



hour can be kept up by the dromedary for several days and nights 

 almost uninterruptedly. 



514. Why are the " camel " 

 and the "dromedary" so 

 called?" 



The Arabic verb from 

 which the name camel is de- 

 rived, signifies to please, or 

 to behave with kindness and 

 humanity, and, in its appli- 

 cation, has reference to the 

 docility of the animal. The 

 Greek word from which the 

 name of the dromedary is 

 derived, means swiftness, 

 running ; and has reference 

 to the speed of the beast. 



515. Why are the camel 

 and dromedary furnished with 

 callosities (or hardnesses of the 

 skin) ; namely, one on the 



breast, and two on each side of the fore legs, and one on each 

 side of the hind legs ? 



They are thus endowed because they do not lie on their sides, 

 but rest and sleep with their knees bent under their bodies, and 

 their breast upon the ground : these parts require to be particularly 

 guarded and strengthened, to resist the weight of the body, which 

 is brought to bear, both when the animal assumes its attitude of 

 repose, and when it rises up. 



516. Wliy is the neck of the camel of great length, and extremely 

 flexible? 



Because this structure allows the animal to crop leaves from the 



