THE CAMEL. 28 1 



rubbed sore, and may be a constant source of trouble. The examination 

 of the hump and back should be careful, as dealers, with intent to 

 deceive, plug- old wounds, gum hair over sores, or smear mud on the 

 back, as if the animal had been rolling. Any suspicious place should 

 therefore receive great attention. The sides of the hump and ribs, and 

 the spines of the loins are the most likely situations to be injured. The 

 nostrils should be looked at to see that they have not been lacerated by 

 the nose peg being pulled out, a condition which often means a trouble- 

 some animal, but may be due to accident or brutality. Marks of tiring 

 on the head, unless they are well-known brands of some particular 

 breeder or tribe, mean that the animal has had staggers, and may be a 

 cause for rejection. The eyesight should be perfect or the animal 

 cannot graze to advantage ; in old camels, partial or total blindness is 

 common, and a practical test, by holding food within sight, should be 

 adopted in doubtful cases. The foot pads should be large, hard and well- 

 developed, and the toe nails sound and free from splits. Small pads are 

 indicative of want of endurance. 



(4) Put on a full load, 250 to 450 pounds, according to the size and Put on a 

 variety, and make the animal rise. A ready method is to make two fuH load, 

 sufficiently heavy men join hands over the back. The uprising should 

 be accomplished easily, without hesitation or trembling of the hind 

 quarters. 



The stringency of examination must depend on the numbers required, 

 and the time within which they must be got. It must not be expected 

 that very large numbers of working animals will be found free from every 

 possible defect, and if certain numbers vmst be bought in a certain time, 

 the main point to remember is that the animals wanted are those that 

 are in full work at the moment, and able to continue doing it. Mange, 

 sore-backs, youth, and pregnancy, are the chief things to avoid. Dealers 

 and tribes show their w^orst animals first as a rule, hoping to obtain the 

 maximum price for them ; they are experts at hiding sores, as stated 

 above, and they fill the animals with water just previous to exhibition, to 

 give the belly a plump appearance. 



Structural and other Peculiarities of the Camel. 



The lips are extremely mobile and the upper one is bifid. The eyes The lips, 

 are very prominent, and liable to injury, but are protected from exposure 

 to sand and sun by a long, heavy fringe of eye-lashes, and beetling 

 brows. The 7nouth^ like that of other ruminants, is furnished with 



