The Common Ruminants are divided into three tribes—those with hairy and permanent horns, those with hollow-horns, and those that shed their horns.
Most of the modern Naturalists admit two distinct species of the Camel genus; the Camel proper, which has two humps on its back, and the Dromedary, which has only one.
The individuals of the Camel genus have a small and strongly-arched head. Their ears are slightly developed, still their sense of hearing is excellent. Their eyes, which have oblong and horizontal pupils, are projecting and gentle in expression, and are protected by a double eyelid. Their power of sight is very great. Their nostrils are situated at some distance from the extremity of the upper lip, and, externally, appear only two simple slits in the skin, which the animal can open or shut at will. Their upper lip is split down the centre, and the two halves are susceptible of various and separate movements. These constitute a very delicate organ of feeling. They are also possessed of an extremely acute sense of smell.
This remarkable head is carried with a certain degree of nobility and dignity on a somewhat long neck, which, when the animal moves slowly, describes a graceful arched curve.
Their peculiar body, made more remarkable by the one or two humps on its back, is supported on four long legs, which appear slender in comparison with the mass they bear.
In the Camel proper the color of the coat is chestnut-brown. The hair grows to a considerable length, and becomes rather curly on the humps and about the neck. Below the neck it forms a fringe, which descends over the fore-legs.
The Dromedary, which is less massive in form and smaller in size than the Camel, has a coat of brownish-grey. Its hair is soft, woolly, and moderately long, more especially about its hump and neck.
The Camel is a native of ancient Bactria. It principally lives in Asia, where it has been used, from antiquity, for domestic and military service. In Africa, where it is acclimatised, it has doubtless existed since the time of the conquest of that country by the Arabs.
The Dromedary is distributed all over a great part of Northern Africa, and a portion of Asia. It seems originally to have been a native of Arabia.