Dr. Kneeland on the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee. 23 



of the Megathyris cistellula, and that Mr. Barlee has met with 

 several. I have also dredged at the same haul^ in the laminarian 

 zone, live Luciiia borealis and L. Jiexuosa, and examined both. 



June 22, 1852. 

 I have just captured an example of the species known as the 

 Lepton convcxumy which will solve the problem of its distinctness 

 or otherwise from the Lepton nitidum, concerning the animal of 

 which I have full notes. Whilst 1 write, I examine my prize, which 

 is very vivacious, free from rusticity, and I feel confident will aiFord 

 to science the information which has been so long a great desi- 

 deratum. In the same glass I have a live example of the rare 

 Chemnitzia obliqua or C. decorata^ 1 cannot yet say which (if 

 they are distinct), for fear of disturbing the animal, which is a 

 splendid, unrecorded creature, displaying specific characters of 

 more than usual beauty and interest. I will prepare without 

 delay an account of my captures. — W. C. 



V. — On the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee^ Troglodytes gorilla. 

 By S. Kneeland, Jun., M.D., Boston, U.S.A. 



The Boston Society of Natural History has recently received a 

 valuable addition to its cabinet in a nearly complete skeleton of 

 the Troglodytes gorilla from Western tropical Africa. It consists 

 of a fine skull, with lower jaw and teeth complete ; all the ver- 

 tebrse except the atlas ; the pelvis complete ; both scapulse and 

 clavicles ; the humerus, radius, and ulna of left side, the ulna of 

 right side with humerus and radius broken ; the right femur, 

 tibia and astragalus, the head and upper part of left femur ; all 

 the ribs^ except two on the left side ; the upper part of the ster- 

 num j and a few bones of the hand and foot. 



The skull is of great size and strength ; the internal capacity 

 is only 27 cubic inches, 8 inches less than in another belonging 

 to the Society. From the great development of the crests, and 

 the massive character of all the bones, this is undoubtedly a male ; 

 the jaws, the complete development and worn appearance of the 

 teeth, indicate an adult, if not an old animal. The sutures are 

 hardly discernible, as usual ; the superciliary ridges and crests 

 are remarkably developed. The specific characters pointed out 

 by Professor Agassiz, in the decreasing depth of the infra-orbitar 

 canal from before backwards, and the projection outwardly of the 

 inner wall of the orbit, are well seen ; there are two infra-orbitar 

 foramina on each side. The nasal bones are united together, in 

 the lower half presenting traces of a median suture, in the upper 

 half a prominent ridge ; the portion of the bone between the inner 



