THE CAMEL. 277 



Select io7i. — The camels selected for any particular service must, as Selection. 

 pre\'iously stated, be suitable to the local conditions under which they 

 are expected to work, of sufficient age and good conformation. The 

 opportunity for watering in the Somaliland desert may occur only every 

 three or four days, and perhaps not for a week ; the camel from the 

 delta of Egypt, accustomed for generations to green food and plenty of . 

 water, will not endure such conditions, while any desert bred camel would 

 do so. On the Kirghiz steppes the camels are under-sized, shaggy 

 animals with lion-like manes, accustomed to work in deep snow, but are 

 incapable of standing the climate of the desert, as indeed are any bred 

 in cool climates. It is then imperative that the animals chosen for any 

 expedition must be suited to the local conditions as far as practicable. 



India7i camels generally stand heat and thirst well, except such as Indian, 

 come from Baluchistan and the extreme north. 



Egyptian camels if desert or crossed desert-delta breed are suited Egyptian, 

 to hot, dry regions, but the animal bred in the delta is a big, soft creature, 

 unable to withstand the privations of desert life, especially on service, 

 though an excellent means of transport in his own locality. In the 

 Soudan at least seven breeds are found among the tribes. The 

 Bisharin and Kababish are, perhaps, the most noted. The former are 

 of light, well-bred appearance, capable of great endurance but unsuited 

 to heavy loads. The Kababish, from the Bayuda desert, are large, 

 strong and accustomed to find their own living in the desert ; they are, 

 therefore, considered valuable when grain feeding is not to be procured, 

 but require plenty of grazing. 



Arabian camels are comparatively small and light, but are good Arabian, 

 workers in hot regions, and are accustomed to grain feeding, without 

 which they rapidly fall off in condition. 



Abyssinian camels are strong, short-legged and compact, and good Abys- 

 workers, suitable for hot climates. sinian. 



Somali camels are small and light, but capable of keeping condition Somali, 

 when water is scarce, as they are accustomed to go several days without 

 watering. It does not appear, from recent experience, that they are so 

 generally hardy and useful as the Indian, Arab or Abyssinian varieties. 

 All varieties just mentioned are only suitable for work in hot climates ; 

 if camels are ever required to winter in a rigorous climate they 

 must be selected from breeds accustomed to such severe weather, or 

 enormous mortality will inevitably result. 



As:e.—K judicious selection with respect to age is important, as the Age. 

 permanent incisor teeth are not sufficiently numerous until the animal is 

 at least six years old to enable it to get a living under active service 



