120 THE CAMEL 



Length of from forty to fifty years, Aristotle declaring it to be a 

 little longer this is all the stronger reason not to work 

 him until at least he is rising six. 



There can be no doubt that a camel is a long-lived 

 animal, and Lieutenant Massoutier makes a great mis- 

 take when he says that he only lives from sixteen to 

 eighteen years, though I can quite understand that a 

 large percentage of them die at this comparatively early 

 age, owing simply to incidental causes, such as (1) work- 

 ing them when too young, (2) excessive work, (3) exces- 

 sive exposure under the most trying conditions. He 

 can, as a rule, when taken moderate care of, work up to 

 twenty-five years of age, and if really well looked after 

 would continue to work until he was thirty or even 

 more ; but the causes just alluded to exercise the same 

 baneful effect, and if they do not kill an animal be- 

 cause it happens to have superior stamina, they cripple 

 its powers prematurely and past recovery. 



The female suckles the calf from a year to a year and 

 a half, and she does not rut again, nor will she permit 

 connection, while this period lasts, although she con- 

 tinues to give milk until she conceives once more. 

 Her milk is very rich, very thick, and very plentiful, 

 and of a decidedly strong taste ; the general use that is 

 made of it has been previously mentioned. The French 

 on their Stud Farm in Algeria feed the calves on oats 

 up to two years old, but whether they commence before 

 the animal is a year old I cannot say. When they are 

 weaned, which is generally in a year, by all means give 

 them wholesome, nourishing food, but certainly not 

 belore ; though it would be far better and wiser to let 

 them continue to suckle as long as the mother will 



