A fine hair known to the American consumer chiefly in the form of high-quality coat fabrics. This textile fiber is obtained from the two-humped bactrian camel, which is native to all parts of Asia. The protective hair covering of the camel is a nonconductor of both heat and cold, also water repellent. In the spring the year's growth of hair, which hangs from the camel in matted strands and tufts, falls off in clumps. This growth, plus the masses of hair shed throughout the year, is the chief source of supply. The camel is sometimes plucked to obtain the down or underhair.