106 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



The typical ruminant stomach is not quite fully developed in the 

 Camel, which, like the Mouse-Deer, has not the third compartment or 

 " manyplies " ; it has long been known as remarkable, however, for the 

 water-pouches, which are found in the walls of the first and second 

 compartments, and by their muscular rims can be shut off from the 

 rest of these cavities. This structure has reference to the Camel's 

 famous power of abstaining from water, which, however, has been 

 somewhat exaggerated ; as a matter of fact, it can, generally speaking, 

 go without water only about twice as long as the Horse, and cannot 

 compare in powers of abstinence from fluid with the Giraffe and seve- 

 ral of the Antelopes, which can live on a dry rdgime for months, 

 though without any special arrangement for water storage in their 

 interiors. 



The characteristic hump of the Camel is not so important a feature 

 as those above mentioned ; it is chiefly composed of fat, which is 

 gradually absorbed into the system in case of scarcity of food or other 

 organic need. Hence a hard-worked and underfed Camel has a flabby 

 hump, and a plump firm one is an unfailing sign of high condition. 



The ordinary colour of the Camel is the sandy-dun represented in 

 the illustration, and this is no doubt the primitive tint, as it is what 

 might be expected in a desert animal ; but black and white Camels 

 are also found, though pied and spotted ones seem to be unknown. 



There is much difference, also, in the various breeds of Camels, 

 the ordinary slow-paced pack-Camel comparing with the swift and 

 slender " Dromedary," which is a sort of Camel-thoroughbred, much as 

 a cart-horse does with a racer. 



The ordinary gait of the Camel is deliberate, and he moves the 

 two legs on the same side together in a very characteristic way; but 

 he is very enduring, and in this, as well as in his powers of bearing 

 thirst and subsisting on the coarsest and driest herbage and very 

 little of that his value as a beast of burden consists. When lying 

 down, the Camel, like the Mouse-Deer, does not lean to one side like 

 most hoofed animals, but lies down squarely, with the limbs bent 

 under him, and the bare horny pads on the chest, knees, and stifle- 



