296 DIVISION I. VI:RTEEI;AL ANIMALS. —CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



exceeding gracefulness, lieauty of markings, and elegance of form ; and all 

 are noted for docility, mildness of tem[)cr, and gentleness of disposition. At 

 the head of this division is rightly placed an animal which clearly connects 

 it with the pachydermatous order, just described, for the camel, although 

 clearly a riuuiuant, is very nearly solidimgulous, or whole-houled, like the 

 horse. 



Genus Cajielvs. — The Camel. In the earliest periods of human history 

 this animal, as well as the ass, had yielded to the domination <jf man, and 

 there is no evidence that from the time of its domestication it has ever been 

 found in a wild state. The form, size, and appearance of this useful beast 

 are probably familiar to all our readers, as the lunnerous menageries which 

 periodically visit all parts of the country, most of which have a specimen, 

 have furnished them witii opportunities for personal inspection. Its habitat 

 is Africa, Syria, Persia, Ciiinese Tartary, and Arabia, and it appears to be 

 placed Ijy the Creator in those regions where man would, to all appearances, 

 have been nearly helpless without its services. Its wliole structure siiows a 

 peculiar fitness for the labors it is required to jierform, and for the long 

 journeys over Ijuniing, sandy deserts, in which it is constantly engaged. 

 Furnished with a double stomach, it takes in a supply of water sufficient for 

 several days, and instances are related where many human lives have been 

 preserved on those vast deserts, far from water-springs, l)y a resort to this 

 rcscr\oir in the bosom of the poor creatui'c, whicii is thus sacrificed to man's 

 necessity. Although the structure of the respiratory organs docs not indicate 

 a ^reat power of endurance, yet it is well known that camels will travel sixty 

 consecuti\e hours, on tolerably level ground, without rest. Tiie feet are 

 covered with a thick, horny skin, to shield them from the sand, flints, rocks, 

 and lava, on which they are obliged to walk. They kneel to receive their 

 l)urdens, and also to have them removed. Wc can conceive of no animal 

 more patient or laborious, )nore obedient to the will of its master, and 

 Consequently more entitled to the kind care and consideration of man. 



Tlicre are two species, the C. Bactriamis and C. jDro/iicdiirius. The 

 former has two humps, one small, placed on the back, near the shoulders, 

 and the other, much larger, i'arthcr towards the rump. Tiiis species is aljle 

 to carry burdens of from four to six hundred pounds. The latter, called the 

 Araliian (/amcl, or Dromedary, is considerably smaller. It has but one 

 hump, and carries a weight of from tiu'cc to four hundred pounds. ' There 

 are several varieties of the Ar.abian camel, and the term Dromedary, strictly 

 speaking, can l>e applied to but one, an animal remarkable for its great 

 cniiability for speed. The (J reck word I)ronicdary, signifies a swift courser, 

 and does not well designate the common varieties of the Arabian species. 



For a great many centuries the entire commerce between Asia, Africa, 



