THE KANCHIL AND THE CAMEL. 235 



musk is almost incredible, for a small piece of this wonderful secretion 

 may remain in a room for many years, and at the end of that time 

 will give forth au odor which is apparently not the least diminished 

 by time. 



Another member of the Moschine group is the Kanchil, or Pigmy 

 Musk (Trdgulus Pygmceus), a deer which is found in the Asiatic islands, 

 and which is as celebrated for its cunning as is the fox among ourselves. 



This animal is not nearly so large as the Musk Deer, and, although 

 somewhat similar in color, may be disting4.iished by a broad black 

 stripe which runs along the back of the neck and forms a wide band 

 across the chest. Instead of living in the cold and lofty mountain- 

 ranges which are inhabited by the Musk Deer, the Kanchil prefers 

 the thickly-wooded districts of the Javanese forests. Like many 

 other animals, the Kanchil is given to " 'possuming," or feigning 

 death, when it is taken in a noose or trap, and as soon as the suc- 

 cessful hunter releases the clever actor from the retaining cord, it 

 leaps upon its feet and darts away before he has recovered from his 

 surprise. 



From the earliest times that are recorded in history, the Camel is 

 mentioned as one of the animals which are totally subject to the sway 

 of man, and which in Eastern countries contribute so much to the 

 wealth and influence of their owners. 



There are two species of Camel acknowledged by zoologists — namely, 

 the common Camel of Arabia, which has but one hump, and the 

 Mecheri, or Bactrian Camel, which possesses two of these curious 

 appendages. 



As the animal is intended to traverse the parched sand-plains, and 

 to pass several consecutive days without the possibility of obtaining 

 liquid nourishment, there is an internal structure which permits it to 

 store up a considerable amount of water for future use. For this 

 purpose the honeycomb-cells of the " reticulum" are largely develop- 

 ed, and are enabled to receive and to retain the water which is received 

 into the stomach after the natural thirst of the animal has been supplied. 

 After a Camel has been accustomed to journeying across the hot and 

 arid sand wastes, it learns wisdom by experience, and contrives to lay 

 by a much greater supply of water than would be accumulated by a 

 young and untried animal. It is supposed that the Camel is able in 

 some way to dilate the honeycomb-cells, and to force them to receive a 

 larger quantity of the priceless liquid. 



A large and experienced Camel will receive five or six quarts of 

 water into its stomach, and is enabled to exist for as many days with- 

 out needing to drink. Aided by this internal supply of water, the 

 Camel can satiate it^ hunger by browsing on the hard and withered 

 thorns that are found scattered thinly through the deserts, and suffers 



