4 o8 UNGULATES. 



these animals from the frescoes of Egypt does not support the conclusion that 

 they were introduced at a comparatively late date into that country. For there is 

 evidence furnished by a papyrus of the 14th century B.C. that camels were at 

 that early period well known in Egypt. Possibly there were some superstitious 

 or other reasons which led to the exclusion of their portraits from the frescoes. 



A certain amount of light is thrown on the question by the occurrence of 

 fossilised remains of extinct camels in the Pliocene rocks of the Siwalik Hills, at 

 the foot of the Himalaya, and also in beds belonging to the succeeding Pleistocene 

 period in Algeria. And knowing, as we do, that so many of the African genera of 

 Mammals have taken origin in India, from whence they have migrated to .their 

 present home, it would seem highly likely that the same may have been the case 

 with the camels. The Arabian camel, or its immediate parent, may, therefore, 

 have sprung from an Indian ancestor, and thence made its way through Arabia 

 and Syria into Northern Africa. 



The Arabian camel is essentially an animal fitted to exist only in dry or desert 

 districts, and consequently all attempts to introduce it into the moist and wooded 

 regions of Southern India and Equatorial Africa have signally failed. Where, 

 however, the climate is at all favourable, its introduction into new regions has 

 generally been attended with success. Camels are reported to have been introduced 

 into Italy in the year 1622, and again in 1738. On a flat plain near Pisa the number 

 in 1810 was forty, and in 1840 forty-one, while later it had increased to upwards of 

 two hundred. Their attempted introduction into Sicily, as beasts of burden in the 

 sulphur mines, was, on account of the climate, a failure ; but in Spain they appear 

 to have thriven. 



In the year 1856 a drove of seventy-five camels was procured from Smyrna 

 by the United States Government, and distributed over Texas, Arizona, and New 

 Mexico. During the war of secession, the whole of these animals fell into the 

 hands of the Confederates, and were used for carrying the mails, some of them 

 making journeys of upwards of 120 miles in a day. At the conclusion of the war 

 the remnant of these once more came under the Government of the United States, 

 and others were purchased in 1866. These were distributed through Arizona and 

 Texas for breeding purposes ; but many died, and the experiment proved unsatis- 

 factory. Consequently, those that survived were turned adrift to shift for them- 

 selves ; and it appears that some still remain in the wilder districts of California 

 and Arizona, and wander over a considerable area in the course of the year. 

 In Australia, the introduction of camels has been a greater success, and they have 

 proved invaluable in the expeditions which have been undertaken to explore the 

 deserts of the interior. 



The food of the camel in its natural state probably consisted 

 entirely of branches and leaves of trees, and although gram is now 

 largely given, a certain amount of green -food is absolutely essential to the 

 animal's health. No matter how thorny the boughs may be, they are quite 

 acceptable to the camel ; and it is perfectly marvellous how the animals manage to 

 eat such food without injury to their mouths. On such a diet, or even on dates, 

 camels will do well ; but when compelled to work for days with little or no food, 

 they soon break down, as was disastrously shown in the expedition to Khartum. 



