CAMEL, Camelus, a genus .of quadrupeds of the order ruminantia, of which only two species exist, both of great use to mankind. This genus is the type of the family cowlicks, to which there belongs only one other genus, aughenia (q.v.), including the llama, alpaca, etc. The whole number of species of camelida is, therefore, very small, and they seem to belong originally to limited regions, both in the old world and in the new. To the peculiarities of these regions, they exhibit a wonderful completeness of adapta tion. The family is regarded as forming a sort of link between the orders ruminantia and pachydermata. The dentition differs from that of all other ruminating animals, particu larly in the presence of incisors or cutting teeth in the upper jaw; camels having also canine teeth in both jaws, and the llama and its congeners in the lower jaw of both sexes; and differences equally important appear in the feet, which have not the cloven hoof common to all the rest of the order—two short toes with separate hoofs adapted to one another—but two elongated toes, each tipped with a small nail-like hoof, the feet resting not upon the hoofs, but upon elastic pads or cushions under the toes.—In the camels, the toes are united by a common sole, thus resting upon one extended pad, instead of having each a separate one, as in the genus °whew(' ; the broader expanse of the foot enabling the animals of the one germs more easily to traverse the loose sand of the desert, whilst the separation of the toes in the other is suited to the uneven surface of rocky heights. The camels are also distinguished by the females having four teats, whilst those of the other genus have. only two; and by a hump or humps upon the back, of which the llama and its congeners exhibit ne traced The long neck, small head, prominent eyes, and tumid and cleft upper lip, with considerable prehensile power, are common to both genera; but with much similarity of form, as well as of particular char acters, the cowlick of the Andes exhibit a gracefulness of outline which strongly con trasts with the gaunt angularity of those of the eastern deserts. Camels are indeed animals of uncouth appearance. Of the two species, that known as the Arabian C. (C. dromedarius) has only one hump on the back, whilst the bactrian C. (C. baetrianus) has two. Some confusion has arisen from the occasional employment of the name drome dary as a designation of the former species, it being, however, more properly limited to a particular variety of that species, more slender and graceful than the ordinary variety, and of much greater fleetness. Buffou's notion, that the hump is a badge of servitude, and the consequence of harsh treatment throughout many generations, is singularly at variance with what we know of its uses. The hump on the C.'s back is a wonderful
provision of nature, to adapt the animal to the endurance of long abstinence from food, or subsistence on very scanty supplies, to which it is often subjected in the desert, and without a capacity for which it would be comparatively of little value to man; and the wide deserts across which he journeys and transports his merchandise by its aid, would be altogether unpassable. The hump is, in fact, a store of fat, from which the animal draws as the wants of its system require; and the Arab is very careful to see that the hump is in good condition before the commencement of a journey. After it has been much exhausted, three or four months of repose and abundant food are necessary to restore it. The backbone of the C. is as straight as that of other quadrupeds,—Another very interesting adaptation to the desert is to be noticed in the thick sole which protects the feet of the C. from the burning sand, and in callosities of similar use on the chest and on the joints of the legs, upon which the C. rests when it lies down to repose, or kneels, as it does for various purposes, and is taught to do that it may be loaded, or that its rider may mount upon its back.—The wedge-shaped cutting-teeth of the lower jaw arc also particularly fitted for browsing on shrubby plants, such as the desert produces —the camel's thorn, tamarisk, etc., which form a large part of the food of the C.; the eyes are furnished with long eyelashes, to protect them from the glare and from the drifting sand; whilst the exclusion of the sand from the nostrils is also provided for by a power of closing their oblique openings at will. But most interesting of all is the provision made for the C.'s endurance of long drought, by the liningof the inside of the second stomach, or honeycomb-bag, and of a portion of the first stomach or paunch, with great masses of cells, in which water is stored up and long retained. This store of water is well known to the Arabs, who, when sore pressed by thirst, sometimes avail themselves of it by killing some of the camels of the caravan.—The first stomach of the camelidce is divided into two compartments by a muscular band—one of the points of difference between them and the other ruminants. Muscular bands, proceeding from this principal one, and intersected by other muscular bands, nearly at right angles, form the cells for containing water. It may be added here, that the senses both of sight and smell are extremely acute in the C., and that it is capable of discerning water at a great distance.