50 



CLASS M A M M A L I A. 



ORDER K UMINANTIA. 



tion. It appears to form a connecting link between the Pachydermata and 

 the Ruminantia. The muzzle is long, and the bones of the face, particu- 

 larly at the fore part, very much flattened ; the upper lip divided. The 

 neck is long and slender, and is generally carried in a double curved direc- 

 tion, like the italicy reversed. The back bears one or two, or no hunches, 

 which has given occasion to Illiger to divide the genus into two Camelvs, 

 or those which have one or two hunches, and Auc/tenia, which have them 

 not : this, however, is a matter of little consequence, as they resemble each 

 other in their great peculiarities. 



Camels are harmless, inoffensive, and patient of fatigue and hunger ; they 

 serve for beasts of burthen in the East ; of their milk cheese is made, and 

 their wool furnishes many other parts of the Arabian economy ; their flesh 

 is also occasionally eaten. The Camel and Dromedary are natives of the 

 old, whilst the other species are only found in the new world. 



Cuvier has divided them into subgenera, the Camels and the Llamas, the 

 latter of which are the Auchenia of Illiger. 



The Camels, or those which have one or two hunches, include 



The One-hunched Camel (C. Dromedarius), commonly called the Drome- 

 dary ; it has but a single hunch, which rises nearly in the middle of the 

 back; it is a native of Africa and Asia, and is used commonly as a beast 

 of burthen in Egypt and Arabia : the African Dromedaries are the most 

 hardy, those of Arabia the swiftest The common sort travel about thirty 

 or forty miles a day, and they will carry a burthen of 1,000 or 1,200 

 pounds weight. Whilst being loaded they are accustomed to lie down, 

 and if there be put upon them more than they can bear, they will not rise 

 till part be taken off. They are also used for the saddle, but are rough 

 trotters. (Plate 18.) 



The Bactrian Camel (C. Bactrianus) very much resembles the preceding, 

 except in having two hunches on his back ; one of which is just above the 

 shoulders, and the other on the loins : he stands about the same height as 

 the Dromedary, and is made use of for similar puqjoses. 



Those without hunches (the Auchenia of Illiger) are the Llamas of the 

 new world (Plate 18). Cuvier states that the toes are not united by 

 membranes, as in the former species, but this is not correct. The Llama 

 (C. Llama) is about the size of a Stag, with a long shaggy coat of a 

 reddish-grey colour ; the back is straight, having no hunch. The neck is 

 much bent, and in rather an elegant form ; and the animal does not carry 

 the head in the awkward manner of the Camel. 



This is the most important beast of burthen in the South American con- 

 tinent, and was the only one known to the natives previously to the arrival 

 of the Spaniards. They carry burthens to the weight of 100 to 150 

 pounds. They are docile, but move with great gravity when domesticated, 

 and no blows can force them to change their pace. If fatigued they imme- 

 diately lie down, and will not again move until rested, in spite of every 

 effort to impel them forwards. When angry, they eject their saliva on the 

 offender, even to the distance of ten paces. In the wild state they asso- 

 ciate in large herds, and, while feeding, one keeps watch on some high 

 pinnacle; on perceiving the approach of any one he neighs, and the whole 

 herd gallops off with great swiftness. 



The species C. Vicunna is about the size of a Sheep, covered with a long 

 and very fine wool, of a dull purple colour ; the belly white ; shaped much 

 like the former, but much smaller. 



MOSCHUS the Musk. The animals which form this genus are all natives 

 of the East, and derive their name from the circumstance of one of them 

 furnishing the perfume musk, which is contained in a bag in the abdominal 

 region. They are timid animals, and extremely nimble. 



The Thibet Musk (M. Moschiferus) is about three feet three inches in 

 length ; two feet three to the top of the shoulder, and two feet nine to the 

 top of the hunch in height ; hair thick and crisp, of various colours, but 

 principally brown ; tail a mere tubercle. They inhabit the kingdom of 

 Thibet, the province of Mohang Meng in China, Tonquin, and Bontan 

 also about the Lake Bachal, near the Rivers Jenesea and Argun. They are 

 naturally very shy, love solitude, and live on mountains most wild" and 

 difficult of access. They are hunted, an occupation of great danger, for the 



sake of their musk ; the bag containing which the hunters cut olF, and tie 

 up for sale. 



The Meminna species, about seventeen inches long, is found in Ceylon. 



The Napu Musk (M. Javauicus) is about twenty inches long and thirteen 

 hif;h, but is much higher behind than at the shoulder ; the top of tlie head 

 very flat ; the general colour is mottled-ferruginous ; the tail two or three 

 inches long, and while beneath. It is called Napu by the natives, is found 

 among the thickets on the sea-shore, and feeds principally on the berries of 

 a species of Ardisia; and, if taken young, can be easily tamed. (PI. 18.) 



The Kanchil Musk cannot be tamed; it is so alert anil running as to 

 have given rise to the Malay proverb for a rogue, "as cunning as a 

 Kanchil." When caught in the nooses laid for them they feign death, but 

 the moment they are incautiously untied they start off and escape. 



Family SOLID-HORSED ; Sdidicornia. 



The Stags (Cervus) and the Giraffes (Camelopardalis) constitute this 

 family. 



Genera. 



ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES. 



PLATE 19. 



Species. Common Name. 



I Alces - - - - Elk or Deer. 



Cervus .-----/ Tarandus - - Rein-deer. 



(Capreolus - - - Roebuck. 



Camelopardalis - - - Giraffa - - - - Giraffe or Camelopard. 



CHARACTERS OF THE GENERA. 



1. CERVUS (Gr. Ktpac, a horn). Antlers solid, deciduous, and not 

 having any horny covering ; entirely wanting hi the female, except in one 

 species; tear-pits; feet bisulcated or cloven. 



2. CAMELOPARDALIS (Lat. Camelus, a Camel, and Pardus, a Panther). 

 Horns short, slightly conical, not deciduous, covered with a velvet-like 

 skin, and tufted at the superior extremities ; bony tubercle between and 

 below the eyes ; neck very long and taper. 



SOLIDICORNIA. DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES. 



CERVUS Deer. This genus of animals is the only one of the order 

 Ruminantia which possess deciduous horns, or antlers, as they should be 

 properly called, since they are mere bony processes, without any horny 

 covering at all ; in which respect they resemble the Camelopardalis, but 

 differ from it in dropping the antlers yearly, whilst in the Camelopard they 

 are never changed. The growth of the antlers begins early in the spring, 

 and they rise from the forehead of the animal at first covered by the skin ; 

 through this, however, the antler soon bursts, and it forms a kind of ring 

 at the root, which is called the bur of the horn ; it continues to grow, and 

 as long as the growth continues, the horn or antler is covered with a kind 

 of cuticle resembling velvet, which adheres firmly to it ; but, as soon as 

 the horn ceases to grow, the velvet separates, and is rubbed off, and the 

 antler is then said to be burnished. When the horn is completely formed, 

 the rutting season commences. The horn is generally shed between 

 January and March. The animals composing this genus are graminivorous, 

 living on herbage and the young shoots of trees; they are very timid, 

 except during rutting time, when they become very fierce and quarrelsome, 

 attacking one another, and even persons who may chance to come in their 

 way. They seldom produce more than one young one, wlu'ch is called a 

 Fawn. The female of this genus is named the Hind. 



Deer are divided into three sections: 1, those with horns partially or 

 entirely flat; 2, those with rounded horns; and 3, those with small 

 horns. 



The Moose Deer, or Elk (C. Alces), native of the forests of Europe, 

 Asia, and America, belongs to the first section (Plate 19). It is about 

 the size of a horse, and sometimes larger ; its shape is much less elegant 

 than the rest of the Deer tribe ; its neck short and thick, and furnished 

 with a kind of dewlap; head large, the upper lip very thick and broad; 



