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Sure, Wal-Mart carries a big inventory, but how about a prehistoric camel?

A nursery owner in Arizona was digging away with the simple goal of planting a new tree at the site of a future Wal-Mart, when he poked into the bones of an ancient camel.

He informed the curator of the geology museum at Arizona State University, Brad Archer, who hurried over and confirmed, "There's no question that this is a camel; these creatures walked the land here until about 8,000 years ago, when the same event that wiped out a great deal of mammal life took place."

The obliging owner of the nursery, John Babiarz, has agreed that the bones ought to go to the museum and be put on display.

Wal-Mart, however, has yet to agree and the rumor is the bones may go on sale.

An executive of the chain explained, 'Since they found the camel on our property, it's merchandise.'

The possibility of camel bones for sale has aroused resistance among local merchants, who fear having the ancient bones for sale will give Wal-Mart an unfair advantage.

'I don't mind competing with Wal-Mart,' one store owner said, 'but you can't give them a big edge like a discount on old camel bones.'