RUMINANTIA. 185 



many hours longer, and so on, from one extremity of the Afri- 

 can desert to another." We know nothing of this animal in a 

 wild condition, but in a domesticated state it has existed from the 

 earliest times, in Egypt, Arabia, Palestine and the neighboring 

 countries. Herds of Camels formed no small portion of the 

 wealth of the scriptural patriarchs, (Job, xliii., 12.) and they are 

 mentioned among the acquisitions of Abram on his first visit to 

 Egypt, (Geri. xii., 16.) 



The Camel was well known to Aristotle, and described by him 

 in his " Natural History." Its native country extends from Mau- 

 ritania to China, within a zone of one thousand miles in breadth. 

 The Arabian Camel is found throughout the entire length of this 

 zone, on its southern side, as far as Africa and India. It is nu- 

 merous in the Canary Islands, to which it has been introduced, 

 and found also in Pisa, Italy. After the conquest of Spanish 

 America, an attempt was made to introduce Camels into that 

 country; but the project was looked upon with disfavor by the 

 " ruling Spaniards," and the animals gradually dwindled away. 



Camelus Bractianus. The BACTRIAN CAMEL. 



This species is found in the northern side of the zone above 

 referred to, including the central portions of Asia and China and 

 Thibet ; occasionally it is seen in other countries. As already 

 stated, it is easily known from the Arabian by its having two 

 humps, one near the shoulders, the other near the croup. This 

 is a stronger and heavier animal than the other species, and nev- 

 er used when dispatch is needed. It is larger than the Drome- 

 dary, being twelve feet in length and eight feet in height, be- 

 tween the humps. The hair is shaggy, particularly under the 

 throat ; the color generally dark brown, though variations occur 

 in this respect, and also in respect to size, strength and fleetness, 

 according to the breed and climate. The Bactrian Camel can 

 carry a weight of twelve hundred pounds, but from five to eight 

 hundred pounds is the usual burthen. 



The Camels not long since purchased by the United States 

 government, with a view of testing their utility in crossing the 

 wide extended plains lying between the Mississippi valley and 

 the Pacific ocean, are described by one of their superintendents 

 "as very superior ones, presenting a far more sightly appearance 

 than the miserable creatures which have been exhibited to crowds 

 in the strolling menageries." He says, "their stride is about 

 3 feet in length, and with steady traveling they will average 3 

 miles per hour. They do not kneel to receive their loads, as has 



