THE CAMEL 123 



All that it does not then need passes into these cells, where it is 

 tightly fastened up. Each of these cells, as has already been said, 

 can be opened or closed as the animal wishes. By this means it is 

 able to travel for several days at a time without being obliged to 

 drink. 



The nostrils of the camel are formed in a rather curious way, 

 for they can be tightly closed at will. The reason is this. In the 

 desert country through which the animal 

 has to travel, there are sometimes very 

 violent " sand-storms ". 



Now, if the nostrils of the camel were 

 formed like those of other animals, it would 

 be in danger of suffocation by such a 

 storm. But as it can close them tightly 

 at will, all that the camel has to do is to 

 wait quietly until the storm has passed by. 



Still, we have not mentioned all the 

 different ways in which Nature has fitted 



the camel for the peculiar life which it Water-cells in the Stomach 



, - of a Camel 



has to lead. 



It is a very tall animal, as no doubt most of you know; so that 

 it cannot be loaded as we load a horse, but must be made to kneel 

 down. Every morning, therefore, when it is travelling, it has to 

 kneel while its burden is being fastened upon its back, and every 

 night it has to kneel again, in order that this may be taken off. 



The camel is not very swift of foot, and seldom travels at a speed 

 of more than three miles an hour, when it is carrying a load. 

 There is a special kind of camel, however, called the dromedary, 

 which is a much faster animal, and is used principally for riding. 



Many people think that the dromedary has two humps upon 

 its back instead of one. But that is not the case. It is only a 

 swift-footed breed of the common camel, — ^just as a racer belongs 

 to a swift-footed breed of the common horse. The camel with 

 two humps is quite a different animal, and is called the Bactrian 

 camel, from the ancient name of the country in Asia in which it is 

 found. 



The camel is a very useful animal to its owner, apart from its 



