1852.] 31 



Guinea, from the Cameroons on the north to Angola on the south, and about 100 

 miles inland, and called by Geographers Crystal Mountains. The limit to which 

 this animal extends either north or south, I am unable to define. But that limit 

 is doubtless some distance north of this river. I was able to certify myself of this 

 fact in a late excursion to the head waters of the Mooney (Darger) river, which 

 comes into the sea some 60 miles from this place. I was inlormed (credibly I 

 think) that they were numerous among the mountains in which that river rises, 

 and far north of that. In the south this species extends to the Congo river, as I 

 am told by native traders who have visited the coast between the Gaboon and 

 that river. Beyond that I am not informed. This animal is only found at a 

 distance from the coast in most cases, and according to my best information, 

 approaches it nowhere so nearly as on the south side of this river, where they 

 have been found within ten miles of the sea. This, however, is only of late 

 occurrence- I am informed by some of the oldest Nysorgine men that formerly 

 he was only found on the sources of the river, but that at present he may be 

 found within half a day's walk of its mouth. 



Formerly, he inhabited the mountainous ridge where Bushmen alone inhabited, 

 but now he boldly approaches the Nysorgine plantations. This is doubtless the 

 reason of the scarcity of information in years past, as the opportunities for re- 

 ceiving a knowledge of this animal have not been wanting : traders having for 

 100 years frequented this river, and specimens, such as have been brought here 

 within a year, could not have been exhibited without having attracted the at- 

 tention of the most stupid. 



I shall not attempt in this sketch to give the osteology of the Ngena as the 

 skeleton itself will demonstrate that. I will, however, make some remarks upon 

 his appearance and habits, color and hair. 



At adult age the Ngena is of a dark or iron gray color the hair being black 

 at its extremities, but white next the skin, which produces the grizzly appearance 

 1 have described. In a young one that I have seen, it was black down to the skin 

 like that of the Troglodytes Niger. I am informed by one of the head men of this- 

 tribe, that they sometimes are found white. He had seen one of this description 

 to the N. E. of this at the foot of the mountains. This may have been the effect 

 of old age, as the animal is reported to have been full sized. It is a general 

 opinion that it becomes lighter by age. 



The hair diflers from that of the Troglodytes Niger, in its greater thickness 

 and length. On the neck, back and limbs, it is not less than six inches. It also 

 presents a more shaggy appearance from its slight curl at the extremities. The 

 length of hair, together with the thickness of skin and the great developement of 

 muscle hereafter to be described, give the Ngena a hugeness that can hardly be 

 conceived from a simple examination of the skeleton. 



Bowditch's assertion that he was apparently four feet in diameter through the 

 shoulders is as correct as most other statements in his book. The specimen 

 sent was three and a half feet from the extremity of the hair on one shoulder 

 to that on the other, and yet this is by no means the largest specimen that has been 

 obtained. 



Sii?i. The skin is very thick on the exposed parts of the body. On the arms, 

 shoulders, back and limbs, the thickness is one fourth of an inch ; on the head over 

 the crest three fourths of an inch thick ; the great thickness prevented my pre- 

 serving it. 



Head The most prominent feature in the fresh subject, as well as in the 

 skeleton, is the crest or ridge in the course of the parieto-parietal suture^ increasing 

 in height from before backwards to a point directly over the intersection of this 

 suture with the occipito-parietal which is the highest point. This crest is not 

 chiefly formed by the bony ridge on the skull, but by the thickness of the scalp 

 before mentioned, and by the length and stiffness of the hair, which is always 

 erect. 



This crest the animal when enraged is said to draw forward, giving him an 



appearance more fierce than ordinary, which is frightful enough. This crest gives 



the face and head a more anthropoid appearance than the dried skull presents. 



This projection gives it the appearance of a forehead. The face, unlike that of the 



