THE CAMEL. 279 



taken up to fifteen or more if their teeth are quite good and they are 

 otherwise suitable. 



The most usual error that is made by the inexperienced in ageing Errors in 

 camels is to mistake well grown two or three year olds with worn milk agoing, 

 teeth for full grown animals, but a comparison of the milk and permanent 

 teeth should enable a careful observer to avoid this difficulty. The size 

 and strength of the permanent tooth is of itself sufficient guide ; when worn 

 to a stump it is a thick, strong, round, brown stump, something like a very 

 old horse tooth ; the milk tooth is half, or less than half, the size, and 

 when worn to a stump is a blackened, shapeless little scrap, without any 

 firmness of attachment to the gum. The gum itself is, in the young 

 mouth, plump, tender, and rosy, while in that of the veteran it is lean, 

 tough, and rather yellow than pink. 



Cofifonnation. — A well nourished, healthy camel has the head erect, Conforma- 

 the eyes clear, the ears pricked, and the hump rounded, plump and tion. 

 vertical, or only with a very slight inclination to one side. The chest 

 should be deep, and the forelegs move freely on each side of it without 

 touching and without splaying. The body should be comparatively short, 

 and well ribbed up, the belly well rounded, and the hindquarters plump, 

 muscular, and not too bent at the hocks. The paces should be easy, 

 with an undulating movement, free from lameness, and without crossing 

 of the hind or splaying of the fore limbs, both of which probably denote 

 injury from slipping up, and inability to carry a load. The callosity 

 beneath the chest upon which the weight of the animal is supported 

 when kneeling, should be deep, large, and free from fissures. The pads 

 of the feet should be large, elastic, and also free from cracks. The stride 

 at the walk is six to seven feet, and the ordinary pace two and a half 

 miles an hour for " baggagers," and up to twelve miles for riding camels. 



Exauiiiintion for pm'chase. — In examining camels it is well not to be Examina- 

 foolhardy, for although they are very easy to handle, they are, neverthe- tion for 

 less, sometimes apt to resent approach by the white man, and they can purchase, 

 kick with considerable violence. They can cow kick up to the point of 

 the shoulder and sweep the foot outwards and backwards to a 

 considerable range. With the forefoot they can strike forwards and also 

 kick sharply upwards towards the elbow. They have been known to 

 kneel on a man after knocking him down. It is only when standing, 

 however, that they are troublesome ; when sitting they are no trouble, 

 and although they make strange gurgling noises in the mouth they are 

 very rarely known to bite. When ageing, stand to one side, as saliva 

 and food is sometimes shot out of the mouth when it is opened, especially 

 if they are ruminating. When beginning to handle the animal the nose 



