28S MAMMALIA. PECORA. Camel. 



42. 43. — Dromedarius. Gefn. thierb. 234. f. p. 234. Charlet. exerc. 13. — Dromedaire, or Dro- 

 medary. Sm. Buff. vi. 118. pi. civ — Arabian, or Oue-bunched Camel. Perm. hilt, of quad. n. 58. 

 pi. xiii. f. 1. 



Inhabits, in a wild ftate, the deferts of Arabia and Africa, and the temperate parts of Aria ; is 

 found, though not in great numbers, on each fide of the Songar mountains, towards the river IIus, 

 Mount Mufart, Mongalia, and the fouthern parts of Siberia; is domefticated and broke in for the 

 ufes of man all over the Eaft, and in Africa, and has likewife been bred in Jamaica and Barbadoes. — 

 This fpecies is fubjecl: to numerous varieties in fize and colour ; it is generally of a reddifh afh, fome- 

 times white or cream coloured ; is a mild and gentle animal, except when in feafon, or when infefted 

 by the Oeftrnm, a fpecies of gad-fly ; is wonderfully adapted for journying in dry fandy deferts, be- 

 ing remarkably patient both of hunger and thirft, faffing almoft entirely for whole days, and putting 

 up with the dry branches of fuch fpinous flrrubs as grow in the defert, which no other animal of 

 burthen could ufe •, and will likewife go on, without drink for many days, nature having endowed it 

 with the inftinct of ftoring up a quantity of water, omthefe occafions, in a particular ftomach : It is 

 ■ capable of carrying very large burthens, even a thoufand or twelve hundred weight, but travels flow- 

 ly, and cannot be forced to quicken its pace, neither will it receive more on its back than its accuf- 

 tomed load ; it kneels down to be loaded or unloaded at the command of its keeper. The hair of 

 the Camel is very foft ; it is fhort in fummer, but longeft on the neck ' and hunch ; in winter it 

 grows considerably longer, and falls off in the fpring, being carefully collected by the Arabs and 

 wove into cloth, or made into felts, either for clothing or for tent cloths. This fpecies is ufually 

 about fix feet and a half high, with a fmall head, and fhort ears ; the roof of the mouth and gums 

 are covered with a tough cartilaginous fkin ; the neck is long, flender, and reverfely arched ; the feet 

 ave half cloven on their upper parts, the two toes being armed with a kind of fmall hoofs, but the 

 foles are undivided, and are covered with a naked tough fkin. On the breaft, on each knee, on the 

 iniide of each fore leg, and at the upper joint of each hind leg, are callofities, in all feven, on which 

 the animal refts when it lies or kneels down; the tail is confiderably fhorter than the hind legs, and. 

 is covered with roughly flowing hair : The male is retromingent, arid his commerce with the female 

 is difficultly attained. 



On an individual of this fpecies, fhewn fbme years ago at Edinburgh, was obferved a peculiar con- 

 formation of the fkin of the neck a little behind the head ; a fpace about three inches by four, was 

 full of minute open pores, apparently the duels of miliary glands, from which a heavy fmelled aque- 

 ous fluid could be prefled out in abundance. It is uncertain whether this be common to the whole 

 race, or accidental ; perhaps it is a provifion of nature to carry off the perfpirable matter, by a par- 

 tial emunclory, to fave the vaft wafte which general perfpiration muft occalion, in the torrid and. 

 waterlefs deferts of Afia, Arabia, and Africa. — T- 



623 jS.' Swift Camel. — Camdus dromos. 



This variety refembles the former, but is much fmaller. Penn. hift. of quad. p. rro: 



Fong-Kyo-Fo,. or Camels with feet of wind. Du Halde, hift. of China, ii. 225. 



The fwift variety is employed in Perfia, Arabia, and Syria, for expreffes, and is faid to travel nine- 

 ty or a hundred miles a day, and to be able, with very little food or reft, to continue this aftonifhing 

 rate for eight cr nine days. It is this variety to. which the name of Dromedary ought exclufively to 



belong. 



