324 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



* 



THE BACTRIAN CAMEL 



(Camelus bactrianus) 



The Bactrian or Two-humped Camel is in all essential points of 

 structure very similar to the one-humped or Arabian species ; but is 

 more stoutly and heavily built, and has a much heavier coat, to say 

 nothing of the characteristic two humps instead of one. It presents 

 much the same colour variations as the ordinary Camel, with which 

 it is sometimes crossed, and produces a hybrid which has but a 

 single hump. These mule Camels are in some respects better working 

 animals than pure-bred ones ; they are capable of reproduction, but 

 the second cross animals are not good for much. 



The Bactrian Camel is the characteristic Camel of temperate and 

 cold climates, being kept from Southern Russia through Central Asia 

 to China ; it can endure intense cold, and some tribes possess both 

 this animal and the Reindeer. Like the ordinary Camel, it is chiefly 

 used for burden, but sometimes for draught, and is exceedingly frugal 

 and hardy. In the Gobi Desert it is found in an apparently truly 

 wild state 1 at any rate the Camels there are very wary, sandy in 

 colour, and with comparatively small humps ; a specimen can be 

 inspected in the South Kensington Museum. 



In European menageries this Camel thrives admirably, as it finds 

 nothing uncongenial in our climate; the pair at present in the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens breed regularly, and it may be observed that the 

 baby Camel has the humps in the form of mere flaps of skin at first, 

 filling out and standing up as the little animal grows. 



