BACTH1A.N CAMEL.- C 



THE CAMEL. 



'ROM the earliest times that are recorded in history, the CAMEL is mentioned as one of 

 the animals which are totally subject to the sway of man. and which in eastern 



countries contribute so much to the wealth and influent f their owners. 



Then- an- two -|-rii-sof Camel acknowledged by zoologists, namely, the common 

 Camel of Arabia, which lias but one hump, and the Mei -h.-ri. or Bactrian Camel, 

 which possesses two of these carious appendages. Of these two animals, the former 

 is by far the more valuable, as it is superior to its two-humped relative in almost 

 every respect. Admirably fitt-d. as are all animals, for the task which they an- intended to 

 perform, the Camel presents such wonderful adaptations of form to duty, that the most super- 

 ficial observer cannot but be struck with the exquisite manner in which the creature has been 

 endowed with the various qualities of mind and body which are needful under the peculiar 

 circumstances amid which it dwells. 



As the animal is intended to traverse the parched sand plains, and to pass several con 

 seriitive days without the possibility of obtaining liquid nourishment, there is an internal 

 structure which i-rmits the animal to store up a considerable amount of water for future use. 

 For this purpose, the honeycomb cells of the "reticulnm" are largely developed, and are 

 enabled to receive and retain the water which is received into the stomach after the natural 

 thirst of the animal lias been supplied. After a Camel has been accust<>m-d to journeying 

 across the hot and arid snn<l wastes, it learns wisdom by experience, and contrives to lay by a 

 much greater supply of water than would be accumulated by a young and untried animal. It 



