184 WILD ANIMALS. 



Bactrian. Perhaps there may be a specimen of it at the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens, and thither who chooses may go and have a look 

 at it, only let him not profane the name of ' dromedary ' by 

 applying it to the clumsy, coarse-haired, upland Persian beast 

 before him. To see real live dromedaries my readers must, I fear, 

 come to Arabia, for these animals are not often to be met with 

 elsewhere, not even in Syria, and whoever wishes to contemplate 

 this species in all its beauty must prolong the journey to 'Oman, 

 the most distant corner of the peninsula, and which is for 

 dromedaries what Nejed is for horses. Cashmere for sheep, and 

 Thibet, I believe, for bull-dogs." 



The most conspicuous points about the camel, besides its 

 uncouth appearance and its hump, are the long neck, prominent 

 eyes, and peculiar feet. But in all these outward deviations from 

 other animal types, as well as in sundry anatomical distinctions, 

 we see the wondrous adaptation of their structures, so that their 

 wants and requirements can be supplied in the localities they 

 frequent. In such places they are speedy, untiring, sure-footed, 

 and capable of subsisting where vegetation is scanty and water 

 scarce. Their spare, sinewy form is devoid of all superfluous 

 weight, but possesses muscular power and strength in one of its 

 highest developments. The head is small, and carried rather 

 high and horizontally, about nine feet from the ground, away 

 from the reflected heat of the sandy plain. The neck is long and 

 slender, and being set well down, seems to grow out of the lower 

 part of the body, between the fore-legs. The ears are short and 

 small, a distinct advantage in countries where sand-storms are 

 prevalent. The eyes, which are bright and sparkling, have a 

 considerable range of vision, for they are placed on the sides of 

 the head in such a manner that the animal is enabled to see on 

 every side, also before and behind to a certain extent, but its 

 upward view is limited, for the brow hangs well over the eye, 

 which is in this manner sheltered from the blinding rays of the 

 sun. The tail is short, with a small bunch at the end. The legs, 

 which are long and slender, are provided with callosities about the 

 knees, the animal having seven altogether, one on the breast, two 

 on each fore-leg, and one on each of the hind ones, which protect 



