The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-01-12
we'll, Agricultural & Industrial Agent,
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co.
Drinking Habits of Animals.

To me, it was an astonishing state
ment that there are animals that
never drink. l went into the matter
for a thorough investigation.
Really, most of us know but little
about the use of water by animals.
We know that "meat animals" like
the dog, lap up water with the tongue,
while vegetarian animals, like the
horse, suck the water up. We know
that all the common animals with
which we are acquainted drink at
least once day, some of them many
times. If we were asked what animal
can do without water the longest, we
probably would name the camel.
Most of our pet animals, like the
dog and cat, drink nearly as often,
and would die of thirst nearly as
quickly, as a person. This is partly
their nature, but very largely re-
suit of habituation. A horse can,
when he has to, do without water
several days, though he suffers great
ly after the first day.
Camels travel four or five days
without drinking, but they are not do
ing without water all that time. A
camels stomach is peculiarly made,
with a number of pouches-"pockets
on the sides." Water is stored here
when the animal drinks, and he can
draw on these reserves canteens" one
at time for bodily moisture. His
keenness in detecting water at in
credible distances makes it easy for
him to regulate his water rations be-
tween drinking places.
Hunters and naturalists say that a
giraffe can do without water three or
four days. One famous explorer
states that in Africa he kept herd
of giraffes under closest observation
for a week, ard that not one of them
drank single time.
Some of the African antelopes
drink but rarely; the Gland, in spite
of its bulk and fat, goes for weeks
without a drink. The hartebeest
drinks when water is handy, but goes
drinkless without apparent inconven-
ience when necessary. The kelp-
springer, one of the liveliest of ante
lopes, and the gerenuk, called by the
natives "little camels," are said never
to drink. The long-snouted dikdik
could not get water even if it so de-
sired; its horne is a hot dry thicket
which it never leaves. The jerboa,
sort Of kangaroo rat, is another Gu
| rious creature of the dark continent
that lives entirely without drink-un-
der conditions of heat and dryness
that to a man without water would
be fatal within forty-eight hours.
According to DR.. Heller, eminent
scientist and explorer, autopsies on
these non-drinking animals proved
them not organically different from
other animals. The most feasible
explanation is that Of habituation.
It is significant that no flesh-eaters
(carnivores) are Among these water
fasters;" it is probable that they. be-
ing more ferocious, drove the timid
animals from the streams and water
holes back into the high, dry attitudes.
As the centuries passed the her.
bivores developed, by compulsion, a
constitutional tolerance of thirst. We
will never know many generations
perished prematurely because of in:
sufficient water; but adaptability, that
wonderful power God has given to
all His creatures, finally triumphed,
and evolved the non-drinking animal.
From Dumb Animals.