95 



CHAPTEE IV 



SPECIES AND BREEDS 



No matter what part of the world the camel inhabits 

 there are only two species the Arabian, or one- 

 humped, found as a rule in a hot dry plain country ; 

 and the Bactrian, or two-humped, confined to cold and 

 mountainous regions. To this there are exceptions : 

 the Afghan, for instance, which comes from a cold 

 mountainous country, although it belongs to the former 

 species. And there are parts of Central Asia where 

 both species are found, one of the results of this being 

 the production of hybrids, which are not uncommon in 

 some places, and which, I have seen it alleged, are 

 occasionally fertile among themselves. When the breed 

 is produced from male Bactrians and female Arabians 

 it is said to be extremely hardy and tough, and able to 

 stand intense cold and exposure. On the contrary, 

 when the parentage is reversed (male Arabian and 

 female Bactrian), the progeny is useless, being vicious 

 and refractory. This is a curious physiological fact, 

 and well worth the study of scientists. Very many 

 years ago, General Harlan, I believe, employed 2,000 of 

 the former kind for several months, and marched them 

 nearly 400 miles across the Indian Caucasus over ice 

 and snow, losing only one camel, and that by an 

 accident. There are, however, various breeds, differing 



