Camels. 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



115 



ORDER RUMINANTIA. 



This order, termed Pecora by Linnaeus, is one of the 

 most natural of the primary groups into which the 

 Mammalia are divided. It contains all those qua- 

 drupeds in which a cloven hoof, the act of rumina- 

 tion (chewing the cud), and the absence of incisors 

 in the upper jaw coexist together as data upon 

 which to draw a line between them and all other 

 Mammals. It is true that the Camelidae, or camel 

 tribe, including the Llamas, exhibit in their denti- 

 tion a departure from the rule, and exhibit, both in 

 this particular and in osteological structure, some 

 approximation to the Pachyderms ; nevertheless 

 even the Camels, in common with the Ruminants 

 generally, partake of those definite structural pecu- 

 liarities from which there is no deviation, and which 

 constitute a common bond of union. 



A rapid glance at the distinguishing characteris- 

 tics of this order will not, we trust, be unacceptable ; 

 certainly it is not out of place. Decidedly herbivo- 

 rous, with lips modified either for browsing, as the 

 camel, giraffe, &c., or for grazing, as in the ox, the 

 Ruminantia are accordingly furnished with teeth, 

 digestive organs, and limbs in accordance with the 

 habits involved. 



To begin with the teeth. We may observe that 

 there are no incisors in the upper jaw, the hardened 

 gum sustaining the pressure of the lower incisors, 

 which are eight in number, with thin, broad edges ; 

 their position is not vertical, but oblique, so that 

 their edges do not press directly against the gum, 

 but rather their posterior surface. The two central 

 are in general the largest, and the outermost on each 

 side the smallest and most oblique. In the giraffe, 

 hovtever, the outermost is the largest, and it ap- 

 I>ears as if divided by a furrow. The molars are 

 six on each side in both jaws : of these the first three 

 are preceded by milk or deciduous teeth ; the three 

 posterior are originally permanent. Their surface 

 IS marked by two pairs of crescentic ridges. In the 

 lower jaw these crescents have the convexity out- 

 wards ; in the upper, the reverse. These crescents 

 as they wear down by use show a centre of bone 

 surrounded by a ridge of enamel. Between the 

 molars and incisors of the lower jaw intervenes a 

 vacant space. 



With respect to the camels, though the number 

 of molars on each side above is really six, five only 

 are in a continuous series, and resemble molars in 

 their shape : anterior to these continuous teeth, and 

 separated by a considerable space, we find a tooth 

 resembling in shape a stout short canine, being of a 

 rimple conical figure ; this is the first molar : it has 

 been called a second canine, but erroneously, the 

 true canine, which is large, strong, and pointed, be- 

 ing placed before it, a small interval separating 

 them. In the lower jaw the continuous molars are 

 four, with a similar pointed and detached molar and 

 canine ; there being true canines, as well as canine- 

 like molars, in both jaws. Incisors also are found in 

 both jaws : four in the upper, but the two central 

 are small and fall out early ; the two lateral are per- 

 manent, and resemble canines in figure. In the 

 lower jaw there are only six incisors, compressed, 

 oblique, and pointed. Fig. 517 shows the dentition 

 of the upper jaw, in two views; Fig. 518, that of the 

 lower, also in two views. 



The dentition of the Llamas closely approaches 

 that of the camel ; there are, however, in these ani- 

 mals only four molars on each side below, and five 

 above, there being no detached canine-like molars. 

 The Chevrotains (Moschidae) are remarkable for the 

 developement of the canines of the upper jaw in the 

 male ; they are pointed, recurved, compressed, with 

 a posterior sharp edge, and project downwards out 

 of the mouth. In the musk-deer they measure two 

 inches and a half in length. There are no canines 

 in the lower jaw. Incisors eight, as usual ; none 

 above. The existence of canine teeth in the upper 

 jaw of the males, though not a universal feature 

 among the Ruminants, is by no means uncommon. 

 They occur in the males of many of the deer tribe, 

 and we have seen them in a rudimentary state and 

 buried in the gum in the female of the South 

 American species ; and they have been found in one 

 species of antelope (Ant. montana, Riipp.) — in this 

 animal, however, they are only half-developed germs, 

 becoming lost before the animal attains to maturity. 

 (See ' Proceeds. Zoological Society,' 1836, p. 3.) 



As the dentition of the Ruminants is so constant 

 and unvarying in its general characters, so is the 

 structure of the organs of progression ; and where, as 

 in the Camelidae, we find a variation in the former, 

 so do we also find a corresponding variation in the 

 ktter. On looking at the feet of a Ruminant, the 

 ilnrt thing we observe is, that they are hoofed and 

 cloven ; an anatomy shows us that these hoof-cased 

 toes, consisting of three phalangal bones, terminate 

 • single long canon-bone. In the camels, however, 

 the toes, instead of being stiort, abruptly truncated, 

 and cased in pointed hoofs, so as to form a solid 

 basis on which to rest, are elongated and only tipped 



with small hoofs, the animal resting on a large pulpy 

 sole or pad, placed like a cushion beneath the toes 

 (See Figs. 520 and 521.) Besides the two large or 

 true toes, there are in some groups, as for instance 

 the deer, two small short lateral toes consisting of 

 three phalanges, and supported by stylets of bone. 

 In the sheep these accessory toes are merely horny 

 protuberances filled with condensed fatty cellular 

 tissue. 



The act of ruminating supposes a complicated 

 structure of the stomach. This organ is divided 

 into four compartments, viz. : 1, the first cavity or 

 paunch, la pause (ventriculus) ; 2, the hood or honey- 

 coinb, le bonnet (reticulum) ; 3, the manyplies, le 

 feuillet (omasus or psalterium) ; 4, the rud, la cail- 

 lette (abomasus). These cavities are so arranged 

 that the coarsely-ground herbage received into the 

 first cavity is gradually propelled into the hood 

 through a valvular aperture, where it is compacted 

 into small balls, which, while the animal reposes at 

 its ease, are returned seriatim to the mouth, to be 

 remasticated by a voluntary effort. The aliment, 

 when sufficiently remasticated, is again swallowed,' 

 and passes at once into the third, or plicated, com- 

 partment, by means of a peculiar mechanism, where 

 it is compressed into flattened portions, which are 

 gradually transmitted through a valvular orifice into 

 the fourth compartment, or abomasus, the true 

 digestive cavity. 



The inner membrane of this portion secretes a 

 fluid (the gastric juice) well known for its power of 

 coagulating milk ; taken from the calf, salted and 

 dried, it is known under the name of rennet, and 

 used in making cheese. 



In young Ruminants, while their food is merely 

 the mother's milk, the process of rumination is not 

 carried on ; and the proportion which the different 

 compartments of the stomach bear to each other is 

 very different from that presented afterwards, when 

 their aliment is changed from milk to herbage. The 

 huge paunch, forinstance, is less than the abomasus, 

 or fourth stomach, this being as yet the largest of 

 the compartments, and the milk as it is swallowed 

 passes at once into it, where it becomes curdled and 

 then digested. 



In the camel, besides the almost total absence of 

 the third stomach, or omasus, there is another pecu- 

 liarity to be noticed, viz. an arrangement of deep 

 cells in the paunch for the reception and preserva- 

 tion of water, and the enlargement of the cells of 

 the reticulum for the same purpose. 'The paunch 

 is divided into two portion?, a right and a left, by 

 a longitudinal ridge of muscular fibres: in the left 

 is a series of deep cells capable altogether of con- 

 taining from four to five quarts of water; in the 

 right is a smaller series capable of containing about 

 a quart. When these cells are filled, the fluid is 

 kept free from mixture with the food by the con- 

 traction of the orifice of each cell, and it can be 

 forced out at pleasure by the action of a muscular 

 expansion covering the bottom of this cellular ap- 

 paratus. The deep cells of the reticulum are ar- 

 ranged in twelve rows, and are formed by muscular 

 bands, intersecting each other transversely. This 

 compartment in the camel appears to be destined 

 exclusively as a reservoir for water, never receiving 

 solid food, as in the ox or sheep ; and it would seem 

 that the remasticated food passes into the third 

 small cavity, being conducted along the upper mar- 

 gin of the second, through a canal formed by a mus- 

 cular ridge, which contracts with so much force as 

 not only to open the orifice of the second cavity but 

 so as to bring forward the mouth of the third into 

 the second, by which action the muscular ridges that 

 separate the rows of cells are brought close together, 

 so as to exclude these cavities from the canal through 

 which the water passes. Sir E. Home observes, 

 that " while the camel is drinking, the action of the 

 inuscular band opens the orifice of the second ca- 

 vity ; at the same time it directs the water into it : 

 and when the cells of that cavity are full, the rest 

 runs oft' into the cellular structure of the first cavity. 

 It would appear that camels, when accustomed to 

 journeys in which they are kept for an unusual 

 number of days without water, acquire the power of 

 dilating the cells, so as to make them contain a 

 more than ordinary supply for their journey ; at least 

 such is the account given by those who have been 

 in Egypt." The llama resembles the camel in the 

 arrangement of a cellular apparatus in the stomach. 

 Fig. 51 1 represents a portion of the cellular appara- 

 tus of the camel's stomach, one-ninth of the natural 

 size. 



The Ruminantia are dispersed throughout the 

 globe from the equator to regions within the arctic 

 circle ; but are most numerous in the warmer lati- 

 tudes. The universality of the distribution of these 

 animals is essentially connected with the welfare of 

 our race, for not only is the flesh of most species ac- 

 ceptable as food, but that of some is in the highest 

 estimation : nor is this all— their hair or wool, their 

 skin, their hoofs, their horns, their antlers, nay, their 

 bones, and even their intestines, are converted to our 



benefit. It is from this order that man has derived 

 the most valuable of his domestic animals, which 

 have spread with him as he has spread, becoming, 

 like himself, denizens of the globe. Such is the case 

 with the ox, the sheep, and the goat. Domesticated 

 from the earliest period, they have ever formed a 

 main part of the national wealth of civilized king- 

 doms, in all ages, and are intimately connected with 

 the prosperity of our race. All the Ruminants, how- 

 ever, which man has domesticated are not univer- 

 sally spread ; some few are adapted by their consti- 

 tution to certain localities, beyond the bounds of 

 which their value becomes diminished. They are 

 formed for the places they tenant, and there are of 

 the highest importance. Of these, one is the rein- 

 deer, an animal essential to the comforts if not the 

 existence of the simple inhabitants of Lapland's ice- 

 bound realm, where the ox and the sheep cannot 

 exist. There " the reindeer form their riches." And 

 again, who has not heard of the ship of the desert, 

 the camel, which now, as in ancient days, freighted 

 with merchandise, traverses the burning desert pa- 

 tient of thirst and hunger? To this animal let us 

 first direct our attention. 



513 to 540.— The Camel 



(Camdus Dromedarius; Gamal of the Hebrews 

 Djemel of the Arabs). Our pictorial museum is rich 

 in specimens of the camel, with accompanying de- 

 tails so pertinent as to set forth the animal's history, 

 and declare its use in graphic language speaking to' 

 the eye. There is something strange and imposing 

 in the aspect of the gaunt and angular camel, desti- 

 tute, as it confessedly is, of grace and animation. 

 We are amazed at its height, its uncouth proportions, 

 its long thin neck, its meagre limbs, and the huge 

 hump on its back, which conveys the idea of distor- 

 tion. Quietly it stands in one fixed attitude, its 

 long-lashed eyelids drooping over the large dark 

 eyes : it moves— and onwards stalks with slow and 

 measured steps, as if exercise were painful. "To 

 complete the picture, it is covered with shaggy hair, 

 irregularly disposed, here forming tangled masses, 

 there almost wanting. Its thick mobile upper lip 

 is deeply divided ; its feet are large and spreading, 

 the toes being merely tipped with little hoofs. 

 There are two species of this animal, the Bactrian 

 and the Arabian. It is to the latter that we shall 

 first direct our observation. 



The Arabian camel is distinguished from the- 

 Bactrian by having only one large fatty hump upon 

 the back, and in being of a somewhat slighter make. 

 It is not known in a wild condition, but most pro- 

 bably was indigenous in Arabia and the adjacent 

 regions, the whole of its structure proclaiming the 

 desert as its destined abode. Reclaimed fro'm the 

 earliest state, its history is interwoven with that of 

 the patriarchs of old : time immemorial it has been 

 the bondslave of man ; and under his mastership 

 is spread over the whole of northern Africa as far as 

 Nubia, and from Syria, throughout Arabia, Persia, 

 and India, being valued in all these regions as a 

 beast of burden. In central Asia the Bactrian 

 camel takes its place, but it is inferior in those 

 qualities which render the Arabian species so emi- 

 nently adapted to the arid burning desert over 

 which it moves silently along, heavily loaded, pa- 

 tient of thirst and hunger, thus maintaining an in- 

 tercourse between districts separated by vast plains 

 of sand, a barrier more effectual than that of the 

 rolling ocean. It is the unwearied patience, the 

 strength, the docility, the power of maintaining 

 long journeys on scanty fare, that render the camel 

 in its own country of intrinsic importance. By its 

 means the merchant transports his merchandise 

 from Aleppo or Baghdad to Mekkah or El-Basrah. 

 Long strings of camels, or caravans, as they are 

 called, venture across the desert, each animal 

 bearing a load of 500 or even 600 pounds weight, 

 and the procession moves at the rate of nearly three 

 miles an hour, regular as clock-work, day after day 

 for eight hours daily. A caravan of camels thus 

 wending their way over the plain, their footsteps 

 falling noiselessly, so that the ear cannot catch the 

 sound of their approach, whether on hard ground or 

 sand, strongly impresses those who for the first time 

 witness this truly eastern spectacle, which indeed 

 calls to mind the days when "a company of Ish- 

 maelites came from Gilead with their camels, bear- 

 ing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, going to carry 

 it down to Egypt." 



The more prominent of the structural peculiari- 

 ties of the camel may here be briefly noticed. The 

 camel treads flat on his toes, and not, as the ox, 

 on a thick hoofed termination : we have already 

 stated that they are cushioned beneath with large 

 spreading callous elastic pads, connecting them 

 together, and extending laterally beyond them, the 

 horn-covered tips being alone free and separate 

 (see Fig. ,520— the Camel's Foot with the skin re- 

 moved). This cushion expands by pressure at each 

 step, a provision of evident advantage to the animal 



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