Animal life in the sea and on the land . Ei<r. 254.—Camel. treasures of gems and spices and the richly woven fabricsof the East were carried on the backs of these large, un-gainly animals to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea,that they might be distributed to all parts of Europe. CAMELS. 369 2. The Structure adapted to Life on the Desert. — Cam-els, from their peculiarities of structure, are well adaptedto the life they lead on the desert. They are not onlyruminating animals, but they can go for many days with-out water, being provided with a singular arrangement of. Fig. 255.—Skeleton of
Animal life in the sea and on the land . Ei<r. 254.—Camel. treasures of gems and spices and the richly woven fabricsof the East were carried on the backs of these large, un-gainly animals to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea,that they might be distributed to all parts of Europe. CAMELS. 369 2. The Structure adapted to Life on the Desert. — Cam-els, from their peculiarities of structure, are well adaptedto the life they lead on the desert. They are not onlyruminating animals, but they can go for many days with-out water, being provided with a singular arrangement of. Fig. 255.—Skeleton of a Camel. cells in the first stomach, or paunch, which they fill whenthey have access to water, and keep as a reservoir for fut-ure use. Their two long toes rest on a broad, horny cush-ion which prevents them from sinking in the loose sand,and their nostrils can be closed at will to protect themfrom the fine particles of dust blown over the desert bythe fierce winds that visit it. 3. The Hump a Reserve Supply of Food.—The large, un-sightly hump on the back of the camel is not a part of theskeleton, as you will see by referring to Fig. 255, but it isonly a mass of fat which slowly diminishes in size when16* 370 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE SEA AND ON THE LAND. the animal is on long journeys and food is scarce. Thefat which is stored up in the hump is gradually absorbedinto the blood, so the camel, in reality, carries a reserve
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1887
