Camel
a genus of ruminant quadrupeds, characterized by the absence of horns; the possession of incisive, canine, and molar teeth; a fissure in the upper lip; a long and arched neck; one or two CAMELLIA humps or protuberances on the back; a broad elastic foot ending in two small hoofs, which does not sink readily in the sand of the desert. The native country of the camel is said to extend from Morocco to China, within a zone of 900 or 1,000 miles in breadth. The common camel (Camelus Bactrianus), having two humps, is only found in the N. part of this region, and exclusively from the ancient Bactria, now Turkestan, to China. The dromedary, or single-hump camel (Camelus dromedarius, or Arabian camel) is found throughout the entire length of this zone, on its S. side, as far as Africa and India. The Bactrian species is the larger, more robust, and more fitted for carrying heavy burdens. The dromedary has been called the race-horse of its species. To people residing in the vicinity of the great deserts the camel is an invaluable mode of conveyance. It will travel three days under a load and five days under a rider without drinking. The stronger varieties carry from 700 to 1,000 pounds burden.
The camel's power of enduring thirst is partly due to the peculiar structure of its stomach, to which are attached little pouches or water cells, capable of straining off and storing up water for future use, when journeying across the desert.
It can live on little food, and that of the coarsest kind, leaves of trees, nettles, shrubs, twigs, etc. In this it it is helped by the fact that its humps are mere accumulations of fat (the back-bone of the animal being quite straight) and form a store upon which the system can draw when the outside supply is defective.
Hence the camel driver who is about to start journey takes care to see that the humps of his animal present a full and healthy appearance. Camels which carry heavy burdens will do about 25 miles a day; those which are used for speed alone, from 60 to 90 miles a day.
The camel is rather passive than docile, showing less intelligent co-operation with its master than the horse or elephant; but it is very vindictive when injured. It lives from 40 to 50 years.
Its flesh is esteemed by the Arab and its milk is his common food. The hair of the camel serves in the East for making cloth for tents, carpets, and wearing apparel. It is imported into European countries for the manufacture of fine pencils for painting and for other pur- The South American members poses. of the family Camelidæ constitute the genus Auchenia, to which the llama and alpaca belong; they have no humps.