THE CAMEL 



(Camelus dromedarius) 



SOME apology is necessary for the introduction of so thoroughly 

 domesticated an animal as the ordinary One-humped Camel into a 

 book on Wild Beasts ; for this animal has been so long and so 

 thoroughly domesticated, that it is not known to exist anywhere in a 

 primitively wild state. On the other hand, it is far too important a 

 type to be left out, and it may be urged that no "wild beast show," 

 stationary and scientific, or migratory and mercenary, is complete 

 without Camels, while they have at any rate reverted to a wild state 

 in parts of Spain. 



The Camel is the representative of a small group of ruminant 

 animals known as Tylopoda (pad-footed) ; they cannot be called hoofed 

 in the ordinary sense of the word, as the two toes, third and fourth, 

 which alone are present there being no back toes merely bear large 

 blunt claws at their extremities, and the animals do not walk on the 

 very tips of the toes as ruminants usually do, but the whole under- 

 surface of the toes is applied to the ground. In the Camels, these 

 toes, though distinct above, are confined below in a single broad 

 horny pad or sole. 



The Camel is also peculiar with regard to its teeth. In other 

 ruminants there are no upper incisors whatever, and the lower canines 

 are like incisors in shape, and lie close alongside of these teeth ; but 

 the Camel has a full set of upper incisors in its youth, and the outer 

 pair are always present, though they are pointed canine-like teeth. 

 Then the canines, present in both jaws, are typical in form, not 

 incisor-like in the lower jaw, and the first grinders in the upper 

 jaw are canine-like teeth ; thus the Camel is well provided with teeth 

 for biting, and, it may be added, has the will to use them on occasion ; 

 and in this it is greatly aided by the flexibility of its neck. 



n. 



