in captivity in lower bengal. 161 



Length of life in captivity. 



From July 1878 to August 1883 ; it had lived for about seven 

 years in another menagerie., 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — A paddock such as that described for the ruminants 

 constitutes suitable accommodation for these animals ; a damp situation 

 should be scrupulously avoided. 



Food. — They appear to thrive well on crushed food consisting of 

 gram, Indian-corn and bran ; also hay, grass, and leaves. 



Treatment in sickness. 



Two of the guanacos died from the effect of an obstinate kind of 

 shin disease which baffled treatment. 



The disease was probably the effect of the bad sanitation of the 

 place to which the animals had to be transferred. 



Observations on their habits. 



Though wary in their wild state, they become very tame in captivity, 

 so that they have often been noticed to come prancing and cantering 

 near the fencing and look inquisitively at visitors ; they are, however, 

 nasty animals to approach, owing to their disagreeable habit of spitting 

 with or without provocation. They have a ringing metallic cry, which 

 is only uttered when the animal is excited. For further information 

 about their habits see Darwin's " Journal of a Voyage round the 

 ■World." 



(216) THE CAMEL. 



(CAMELUS DROMEDABIUS— Linn.) 

 The Arabian camel is now unknown in a wild state. 



(217) THE BACTRIAN CAMEL. 

 (CAMELUS BACTHIANUS— Linn.) 



It is distinguished from the preceding species by having two 

 humps ; it is also more heavy and thick-set in form, and has longer 

 and thicker hair, especially on the head, neck, and armpits. 



Hob. — Found in a domestic or semi-domesticated state throughout 

 greater portion of Turkestan, extending as far as the shores of the 

 Black Sea on the west and the Chinese frontier on the east. 



Length of life in captivity. 



The climate of Bengal is most unsuitable to camels, which 

 generally have not done well. One of the Bactrian camels lived for 

 about four years, but it was an old animal, having already lived for 

 several years in the menagerie of the late King of Oudh. 



