408 
UNGULATES. 
these animals from the frescoes of Egypt does not support the conclusion that 
they were introduced at a comparatively late date into that country. For there is 
evidence furnished by a papyrus of the 14th century B.c. that camels were at 
that early period well known in Egypt. Possibly there were some superstitious 
or other reasons which led to the exclusion of their portraits from the frescoes. 
A certain amount of light is thrown on the question by the occurrence of 
fossilised remains of extinct camels in the Pliocene rocks of the Siwalik Hills, at 
the foot of the Himalaya, and also in beds belonging to the succeeding Pleistocene 
period in Algeria. And knowing, as we do, that so many of the African genera of 
Mammals have taken origin in India, from whence they have migrated to their 
present home, it would seem highly likely that the same may have been the case 
with the camels. The Arabian camel, or its immediate parent, may, therefore, 
have sprung from an Indian ancestor, and thence made its way through Arabia 
and Syria into Northern Africa. 
The Arabian camel is essentially an animal fitted to exist only in dry or desert 
districts, and consequently all attempts to introduce it into the moist and wooded 
regions of Southern India and Equatorial Africa have signally failed. Where, 
however, the climate is at all favourable, its introduction into new regions has 
generally been attended with success. Camels are reported to have been introduced 
into Italy in the year 1622, and again in 1738. On a flat plain near Pisa the number 
in 1810 was forty, and in 1840 forty-one, while later it had increased to upwards of 
two hundred. Their attempted introduction into Sicily, as beasts of burden in the 
sulphur mines, was, on account of the climate, a failure; but in Spain they appear 
to have thriven. 
In the year 1856 a drove of seventy-five camels was procured from Smyrna 
by the United States Government, and distributed over Texas, Arizona, and New 
Mexico. During the war of secession, the whole of these animals fell into the 
hands of the Confederates, and were used for carrying the mails, some of them 
making journeys of upwards of 120 miles in a day. At the conclusion of the war 
the remnant of these once more came under the Government of the United States, 
and others were purchased in 1866. These were distributed through Arizona and 
Texas for breeding purposes; but many died, and the experiment proved unsatis¬ 
factory. Consequently, those that survived were turned adrift to shift for them¬ 
selves; and it appears that some still remain in the wilder districts of California 
and Arizona, and wander over a considerable area in the course of the year. 
In Australia, the introduction of camels has been a greater success, and they have 
proved invaluable in the expeditions which have been undertaken to explore the 
deserts of the interior. 
Habits The ^ 00C ^ ^ ie came ^ na tural state probably consisted 
entirely of branches and leaves of trees, and although grain is now 
largely given, a certain amount of green-food is absolutely 'essential to the 
animal’s health. No matter how thorny the boughs may be, they are quite 
acceptable to the camel; and it is perfectly marvellous how the animals manage to 
eat such food without injury to their mouths. On such a diet, or even on dates, 
camels will do well; but when compelled to work for days with little or no food, 
they soon break down, as was disastrously shown in the expedition to Khartum. 
