Described and Illustrated with Photographs by W. P. Danpo, F.z.s. 
AN interesting and attractive addition to 
The the Society’s collection was 
Bactrian born in the menagerie at the 
Camel. 
beginning of April. ‘This, I 
believe, is the first camel bred and born at the 
Zoo, although the same parent arrived in foal 
when deposited in the Gardens some two 
years ago. The young male is a very tall 
specimen, as can be judged by comparing his 
height with that of his mother; the single 
pose shows how “leggy” he is. The two 
black markings on the back of the animal are 
in reality the 
humps hanging 
down in the form 
of loose skin, 
which will gradu- 
ally be filled out. 
At present they 
are quite loose, 
but when they 
are held up the 
shape of the 
humps can be 
plainly seen. The 
mother is a native 
of Siberia and is 
very docile; but, 
as Palgrave ob- 
served, “if docility 
means stupid, 
well and good; 
in such a case 
the camel is the 
very model of 
BORN APRIL Isz, 1803 
395 
stupidity. But if the epithet is intended 
to designate an animal that takes an interest 
in its rider so far as a beast can, that 
in some way understands his intentions, or 
shares them in a subordinate fashion, that 
obeys from a sort of submissive or half fellow- 
feeling with his master, ike the horse or 
elephant, then I say that the camel is by 
no means docile—very much the contrary. 
He takes no heed of his rider, pays no 
attention whether he be on his back or 
not, walks straight on when once set 
agoing, merely 
because he is too 
stupid to turn 
aside, and should 
some tempting 
thorn or green 
branch allure him 
out of his path, 
continues to walk 
on in the new 
direction sunply 
because he 1s too 
dull to turn back 
into the right 
road, In a word, 
he is from first 
to last an un- 
domesticated and 
savage aninal, 
rendered service- 
able by stupidity 
alone, without 
much skill on his 
