

VERTEBRATA 



been the great instrument by which the vast interior trade of the ricli and fertile countries of 

 the middle rone of Asia baa been conducted. Some of the breeds are acclimated in the cold or 

 tempt rate regions weal of the Taurus and Himalayas, and even in the countries of the Caspian 

 and amid the steppes of the Crimea, supporting the rigors of these harsh climates as well as any 

 Other animals. 



THE DROMEDARY, OR ARABIAN CAMEL. 



The Dromedary, or, as it is often called, the Arabian Camel, is distinguished by a single 



bump, a lighter form, and a more rapid movement than the other species. There are three vari- 



j, the Brown or Caucasian Dromedary, which is stouter and more robust than the others; 



tie- Egyptian Dromedary, which is of large size, and covered with short gray hair, and th< 



White Dromedary, which is in part whitish-gray, the head, neck, hump, and fore-limbs being 



red with long hair. It is true that the Bactrian and Arabian < 'amel are both bred and used 



diti* -, but the varieties of the latter are almost exclusively employed in Africa, Turkey, 



Asia Minor, and Arabia; many also are used by the marauding Tartars. They are particularly 



suited to arid and sandy countries, and are wholly used in crossing the wastes of Sahara, more ap- 



palling than the waves of the sea, where, indeed, whole caravans have been buried in the drifting 



billows of Band, and where in > ■ places the surface of the earth is whitened with the hones of men 



anil camels which have perished from thirst. This species is the one employed by the Hebrews in the 

 patriarchal ages, and it appears thai this nation introduced it into Egypt, [n the conflict with 

 Mithridates, the Romans under Lucullus first met soldiers mounted on camels. The Carthagi- 

 nians 'lid not use these animals, and they appear to have arrived in Northern Africa after the 

 I '• lisarius in that quarter. At the present day multitudes of these animals are seen 

 ■nly in the caravans crossing the deserts, hut in the cities of Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, Cairo, 

 Kandria, anil indeed throughout Africa, Arabia, and Syria. 



