572 



VERTEBKATA. 





TIIE BACTRIAN" CAMEL. 



THE CAMELTD^E. 



This family includes two genera, the Camel and the Lama, both of which are in several re- 

 spects very unlike the other members of the order of Ruminantia, and at the same time very un- 

 like each other. Both, however, are among the most useful of animals to the inhabitants of the 

 countries they inhabit. 



Genus < \.\IKL: Camelus. — Of this there are two species, the Bactrian Camel, C. Baclriar 



and the Dromedary, C. Dromedarius ; both, however, are embraced under the general 

 name of Caiml, which in Hebrew is Gamal ; in Arabic, Djcmal ; in German, Kamccl ; in 

 French, Chameau. Their native countries are in the warmer and temperate parts of Asia, but 



ven here are they met with in a wild state; the whole race appears, indeed, to have been 

 from time immemorial under the dominion of man. We trace them in the Scriptures from the 

 earliest periods, DOl as wild animals, but as already subject to man's use, and especially as the 

 greal instrument of commercial intercourse. Thus, when Joseph's brethren having cast him into 

 the pit, and after the commission of their crime sat down to eat bread, "they lifted up their 



and looked, and behold, a company of [shmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bear- 

 ing spicery and balm ami myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt." (Genesis xxxvii. 25.) Again. 

 in Judges \iii. 21, we read that "Gideon arose and slew Zebah and Zalmunnah, and took awa) 

 the ornaments that were on their camels' necks." In Genesis xxxii. 7, we find that Jacob "divi- 

 ded the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands:" - 



; ""1 'he «! -tie state of the animal at this early period is further proved by verse fifteen of the 



same chapter, where we see, as pari of ihe present sent by Jacob to propitiate Esau, "thirty milch 

 camels with their colts." In Leviticus, xi. 4, the camel is enumerated among the forbidden ani- 

 mals, "because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you." Tart ■ 



