THE (TRUE] CAMEL. 



73 



never found in them after death. Of the last compartment, or " abomasum," it may be noted that 

 it is nearly cylindrical in shape, its walls being very muscular. It is in this stomach that true 

 digestion is carried on. 



Of the Camels two species are known, differing in the number of the humps upon their backs. 

 Nothing is known of either variety in the wild state. We will commence with the descrip- 

 tion of 



THE (TRUE) CAMEL.* 

 The One-humped Camel of Arabia is frequently termed the Dromedary, but this latter name 



HEAD OF THE 



is correctly applicable only to the swift variety of the species which is employed for riding, the 

 heavier-built One-humped Pack-Camel not being included under the designation. 



It is the Arabian Camel the Ship of the Desert which is much more serviceable to man than its 

 Bactrian ally. Its distribution has extended westwards along North Africa, from which attempts have 

 been made to introduce it into Spain. Eastwards it is found as far as India. 



In the Camel the limbs and neck are lengthy. A single bulky hump is present on the middle 

 of the back, composed of fatty cells held together by strong bands of fibrous tissue which cross 

 in all directions. Like all similar accumulations, it varies much in size according to the condition 

 of the animal, dwindling almost to nothing after protracted hard work and bad feeding, being firm 

 and full in times of ease and plenty. When on the point of commencing a long journey, there 



* Camelus dromcd iriw. 



