192 THE CAMEL. 
Instead of living in the cold and lofty mountain ranges which are inhabited 
by the Musk Deer, the Kanchil prefers the thickly wooded districts of the 
Javanese forests. Like many other animals, the Kanchil is given to 
“possuming,” or feigning death when it is taken in a noose or trap, and as 
soon as the successful hunter releases the clever actor from the retaining 
cord, it leaps upon its feet and darts away before he has recovered from his 
surprise. 
FRoM the earliest times that are recorded in history, the CAMEL is men- 
tioned as one of the animals which are totally subject to the sway of man, 
and which in Eastern countries contribute so much to the wealth and influence 
of their owners. 
There are two species of Camel acknowledged by zoologists, namely, the 
common Camel of Arabia, which has but one hump, and the Mecheri, or 
Bactrian Camel, which possesses two of these curious appendages. 
As the animal is intended to traverse the parched sand-plains, and to pass 
several consecutive days without the possibility of obtaining liquid nourish- 
ment, there is an internal 
structure which permits 
the animal to store up 
a considerable amount 
of water for future use. 
~ For this purpose the 
. honey-comb cells of 
the “reticulum” are 
largely developed, and 
are enabled to receive 
and to retain the water 
which is received into 
the stomach after the 
natural thirst of the ani- 
mal has been supplied. 
After a Camel has been 
accustomed to journey- 
ing across the hot and 
arid sand wastes, it 
‘ a = learns wisdom by ex- 
aye = — = perience, and contrives 
a to lay by a much greater 
CAMEL.—(Camélus Ardbicus.) supply of water than 
: would be accumulated 
by a young and untried animal. It is supposed that the Camel is, in some 
way, able to dilate the honeycomb cells, and to force them to receive a 
larger quantity of the priceless liquid. 
A large and experienced Camel will receive five or six quarts of water into 
its stomach, and is enabled to exist for as many days without needing to 
drink. Aided by this internal supply of water, the Camel can satiate its 
hunger by browsing on the hard and withered thorns that are found scattered 
thinly through the deserts, and suffers no injury to its palate from their iron- 
like spears, that would direfully wound the mouth of any less sensitive 
creature. The Camel has even been known to eat pieces of dry wood, and to 
derive apparent satisfaction from its strange meal. 
The feet of the Camel are well adapted for walking upon the loose, dry sand, 
than which substance there is no more uncertain footing. The toes are very 
broad, and are furnished with soft, wide cushions, that present a considerable 
surface to the loose soil, and enable the animal to maintain a firm hold upon 
