236 



THE CAMEL. 



no injury to its palate from their iron-like spears, that would direfully 

 wound the mouth of any more sensitive creature. The Camel has been 

 known to eat even pieces of dry wood, and to derive apparent satisfac- 

 tion from its strange meal. 



The feet of the Camel are well adapted for walking upon the loose, 

 dry sand, than which substance there is no more uncertain footing. 

 The toes are very broad, and are furnished with soft, wide cushions, 

 that present a considerable surface to the loose soil, and enable the 



The Camel {Camelus Ardbicus). 



animal to maintain a firm hold upon the shifting sands. As the Camel 

 is constantly forced to kneel in order to be loaded or relieved of its 

 burden, it is furnished upon the knees and breast with thick callous 

 pads, which support its weight without injuring the skin. Thus fitted 

 by nature for its strange life, the Camel faces the desert sands with 

 boldness, and traverses the arid regions with an ease and quiet celerity 

 that has gained for the creature the title of " Ship of the Desert." 



The Camel is invariably employed as an animal of carriage when 

 in its native land, and is able to support a load of five or six hundred 

 pounds' weight without being overtaxed. 



The pace of the Camel is not nearly so rapid as is generally sup- 

 posed, and even the speed of the Heirie, or swift Camel, has been 

 greatly exaggerated. 



The speed of the Heirie is seldom more than *eight or ten miles per 



