104 NATURAL HISTORY. 
Fig. 89.—The Arabian Camel. 
177. The Arabian Camel has been called very appro. 
priately “the ship of the desert.” It is especially fitted 
in many respects for traveling across the wide deserts 
in that quarter of the world. Its broad elastic cushions 
on its feet afford it a firm footing on the sand. The 
callous surfaces on its chest and limbs defend it from the 
heat of the sand as it takes its rest. The eye is shielded 
from the glaring light of the sun by a brow hanging over 
like a roof, and by its long eyelashes. Its nostrils can 
be closed at pleasure when the hot sand is driven along 
in clouds by the wind. Its teeth and lips are fitted to 
the food on which it must depend in the desert. The 
thorny shrubs and tough leaves which it eats require 
powerful cutting and grinding teeth for their mastica- 
tion. These the Camel has. And with its long stout 
lip it readily draws the twigs and leaves into its mouth. 
But the most essential provision of all is in the water- 
cells in one of the stomachs of the Camel. Here he can 
stow away a large quantity of water for use on his long 
journey. This he uses only as he requires it. When 
