CHAPTER XIII.

PLATE XXVI.

STOMACH OF THE CAMEL.

The figure in this plate exhibits the cells in the stomach of the camel, from a preparation in the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. In the camel, dromedary, and lama, there are four stomachs, as in horned ruminants; but the structure, in some respects, differs from those of the latter. The camel tribe have in the first and second stomach numerous cells, several inches deep formed by bands of muscular fibres crossing each other at right angles; these are constructed so as to retain the water, and completely exclude the food. In a camel dissected by Sir E. Home, the cells of the stomach were found to contain two gallons of water; but in consequence of the muscular contraction, which had taken place immediately after death, he was led to conclude this was a quantity much less than these cavities were capable of receiving in the living animal. See Lectures on Comparative Anatomy, by Sir E. Home, vol. i. p. 168.

Mr. Bruce states, in his Travels, that he procured four gallons of water from a camel, which from necessity he slaughtered in Upper Egypt.

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PLATE XXVII.

CHAPTER XIII.

- TONGUE OF THE WOODPECKER, AND SKULL OF THE BABYROUESSA.

FIG. 1. The head of the woodpecker, (picus viridis.)

FIG. 2. The tongue, the natural size.

FIG. 3. The claw of the same bird, referred to in Chap. V.

FIG. 4. The skull of the babyrouessa, from a specimen in the Anatomy School, Christ Church, Oxford.

This animal is nearly the size of the common hog, and instead of bristles, is covered with fine short and woolly hair, of a deep brown or black color. It is also distinguished by the extraordinary position and form of the upper tusks, which are not situated on the edge of the jaw, as in other animals, but are placed externally, perforating the skin of the snout, and turning upwards towards the forehead.

The babyrouessa is found in large herds in many parts of Java, Amboina, and other Indian islands, and feeds on vegetables.