'Precisious and plain plodders such In love do swallow camels, whilste the water so deposited is, in the first place, not liable to pass into the intestines; in the second place is kept separate from the solid element and, in the third place, is out of the reach of the digestive action of the stomach, or of mixture with the gastric juice. It appears that the animal, by the conformation of its muscles, possesses the power of squeezing back this water from the adjacent bags into the stomach, whenever thirst excites it to put this power into action. 520. Mr. Partington, from whose "Cyclopædia" we have several times quoted, calls in question this endowment of the camel. We have no doubt, however, of the capability of the animal in this respect, though we think the fact has been exaggerated and wrongly described. That travellers have ever killed camels, and taken supplies of water from their second stomachs, is unfounded, though frequently stated. But that the animal is capable of long abstinence from water, and that it derives this power from being able to receive and retain a store of the fluid either in the cells or coats of one or all of his stomachs, there cannot be the slightest question. 521. Why are the camel's feet provided with large cushions or pads? Because a foot thus furnished is best adapted for treading upon sand. The foot of the camel is planted with a heavy downward stamp, and lifted up straight and high. The oval cushion underneath meets the sand with a dead pressure, and therefore has little tendency to sink into it. The extremities of the toes are fortified by flat nails, which have a very slight resemblance to proper hoofs. These give firmness to the cushion that lies underneath. The cushion also, being a non-conductor of heat, prevents the heat of the sands from distressing the animal upon its journey. 522. With what other peculiar functions is the camel endowed, • suitable to its habits and employment? The elevation of the camel's head and the acuteness of its sight and smell, enable it to discern the green oasis, and to scent the refreshing water, at a great distance. "Like as a mastiffe having at a bay A salvage bull, whose cruel hornes do threat The eye is shielded from the intense glare of light by a prominent over-hanging brow, and by long eyelashes, and the nostrils are so constructed as to be closed by the animal at pleasure, so as to keep out the fine sand which is being continually driven by the wind. Its natural food consists, not of the meadow herbage and fat pastures, in which most of the ruminants delight, but of thorny shrubs, date leaves, and the leaves and branches of the tamarisk ; these, when it meets with them, together with dates, beans, and cakes of barley, pounded by its master, constitute its supply of food during the toilsome journey. Hence we see the utility of its strong incisors, its canine teeth, and its canine-like molars, which enable it to browse on the coarsest shrubs with ease; while its long prehensible lip serves to draw the twigs and leaves to its mouth, or to hold the tuft of herbage which is undergoing mastication. These explanations with reference to the camel are equally applicable to the dromedary. 523. Why are the toes of the llama separated and pointed? Because the llama is a mountaineer, cropping the herbage of elevated ranges, but having sometimes in its wanderings to cross barren and heated tracts. Its foot, therefore, instead of having the toes bound to one solid oval cushion, as in the case of the camel, is distinguished by having the toes well separated, each one being provided with a complete pad. This foot is remarkably well-adapted for holding on upon the rough surfaces of precipices; whilst it is also fitted for occasional use upon heated and barren tracts. 524. Why are numerous animals of the order ruminantia provided with variously-shaped horns? It is obvious that these organs are, with all the tribes, "To the strong ram Tie fast the rash offender. See at first His horned companion, fearful and amazed, Still drag him trembling o'er the rugged ground."-SOMERVILLE. weapons of defence: but that explanation does not suffice for their various and singular shapes, and for certain circumstances connected with their history. In the deer tribe, for instance, horns belong only to the male in most of the species; in The horns are composed the rein-deer the female is furnished also with horns, but they are smaller than those of the other sex. of a bony substance, grow periodically, fall off annually, and are again renewed of a larger size than in the preceding year. Their forms are various: sometimes they spread into broad palms, which send out sharp snags around their outer edges; sometimes "That very portion which (by faithful skill they divide fantastically into branches, some of which project over the forehead, whilst others are reared upwards in the air; or they may be so reclined backwards that the animal seems almost forced to carry its head in a stiff, erect posture. Yet, in whatever way they grow, they appear to give an air of grandeur to the animal. It may, then, speaking in general terms, be said that the easy elegance of their form, the lightness of their motions, their size, their strength, their fleetness, and the extraordinary development of those branching horns, which seem fully as much intended for ornament as defence, all contribute towards placing horned animals in the foremost rank of quadrupeds. 525. Paley remarks upon the general question: A third property of animal form is beauty. I do not mean relative beauty, or that of one animal above another of the same species, or of one species compared with another of the same species; but I mean, generally, the provision which is made in the body of almost every animal to adapt its appearance to the perception of the animals with which it converses. He supports this hypothesis by an example :-The ir des (colours) of the eyes of animals are very beautiful, without conducing at all, by their beauty, to the perfection of vision; and Nature could in no part have employed her pencil to so much advantage, because no part presents itself so conspicuously to the observer, or communicates so great an effect to the whole aspect. . This argument seems to be fully borne out by the fact, that the period when the deciduous horns arrive at perfection, is the season of love between the sexes. They continue in the male until the season of pairing, and in the female during the whole period of gestation; and as they drop off in both as soon as these great labours of the year are over, it is evident that they have some connection with the sexual system, and consequently with the affections. But in point of utility much may be said. The horn of the deer tribe differs materially in substance from the horn of the ox. The former supplied man with some of his earliest and rudest instruments and weapons, and in the present days of luxury and refinement contribute largely to ornamental and useful manufactures, especially that of knife-handles, in which they are used in nearly their natural state. The horns of the ox, goat, sheep, &c., are largely used for the manufacture of combs, boxes, lanterns, and other articles. The consumption in these various uses throughout the world must be enormous. We see, therefore, in the horn of the ruminant, all those offices combined which are exhibited in other remarkable productions of nature: use to the animal; individuality of character and appearance; and utility to man. "The stag, too, singled from the herd, where long 526. The term horn is commonly applied to any hard projecting body on the head of animals, serving as a weapon of defence; but it is strictly applicable only to a certain class of such weapons. For instance, the antlers of the stag consist entirely of bone, and have no right to the denomination "horns;" the weapons of the ox, the 'sheep, and the antelope, consist of a sheath of true horny material on a bony core; while the horns of the rhinoceros are wholly composed of horny matter. Bone and horn are as distinct from each other, as both are from ivory; yet the three are often confounded by the application of the general term "horn" to antlers, tusks, and true horns. Besides the horns on the head of animals, there are other horny processes in the hoofs, claws, nails, &c., and there are various modifications of horn in the scales of the armadillo, the plate armour of the tortoise, the spines of the porcupine and hedgehog, and the quills of birds. Horn consists principally of membranous animal matter, being a compound of coagulated albumen, gelatine, and a small portion of phosphate of lime. It has been well remarked of these proportions, "had the horns much more earth, they would be brittle like bones; had they much more gelatine, they would be soluble like jelly or glue;" as it is, they are easily convertable to the purposes of the manufacturer, by whom they are so largely used, that considerable importations of horns are necessary, in addition to the supply afforded by this country. The horns chiefly applied to manufacturing uses are those of the bull and cow, with the hoofs of those animals. Large quantities are imported from Russia, South America, and Southern Africa. The horns of the bison and buffalo are also in demand, the latter being frequently reserved, on account of their beauty, for superior purposes. The horns of the chamois and antelope are polished and used in their natural forms.* 527. Why does a stag prefer to reach water before he stands at bay? Because, from his greater height, he can maintain a footing,' while the dogs, obliged to swim, become comparatively helpless. He therefore strikes at them with his horns with great effect, while they have little power to attack him. 528. Why are the horns of buffaloes of peculiar utility to them? Because these animals feed in close jungles, where their eyes * Tomlinson's "Encyclopædia of Useful Arts and Manufactures." |