Camel

Genus Camel us. Ruminating animal, with outer upper incisors present and tusk-like, as is also the first premolar. Canine teeth present, upper lip cleft, nostrils closable at will, neck vertebræ long, two toes functional, and with pads and nails. One hump of fat on back of Dromedary (Arabian camel), and two humps on Bactrian species of Central Asia. Stomach has no manyplies, the rumen has water-cells. A camel can travel 300 m. in 5 days without drinking. Color sandy, rarely white, length 10 ft., height 7 ft. Wild camel, supposed to have escaped from owners, is found in Asia and in Arizona. The camel has keen sight and scent, lives ab. 30 yrs., and brings forth one foal at a time. The Arabian camel's load averages 500 lbs., the Bactrian can carry twice the weight, but only for short distances. Its gait is ab. 24 m. per hour. Some of the camels bred for speed eed and known as dromedaries travel 100 m. a day. Camels have been succe fully imported into Australia for exploration of the interior, and in 1857 the U. S. made a similar succe ful experiment in New Mexico and Arizona. The Civil War prevented the extension of their use, but camels are still employed in Nevada. See TYLOPA. For American camels see GUANACO, LLAMA, VICUNA.