210 GORILLA 



caused by age or sex, that was different from the type. Three races 

 have been described from Cameroon — diehli from northern Cameroon ; 

 matschie and jacobi from southern and western Cameroon, and, when 

 more material has been obtained, these may be entitled to a racial 

 distinction; for it is hardly to be supposed that there would exist in 

 the same tract of country, distinct forms of these Apes, whose roving 

 habits, caused by the necessity of obtaining food in large quantities, 

 compel them to travel widely. With our present material their rank 

 cannot be determined, but the variations shown in the skulls now in 

 the collections, are so considerable that they give no clue towards a 

 settlement of the problem how any kind of distinctive rank can be 

 established. The specimens obtained exhibit a very large animal, but 

 more material is required before it can be proved if more than one 

 race, of the three described, exists. 



From the Gaboon two forms have been described, G. gorilla, 

 longest known species of the genus, and G. g. castaneiceps, but it is 

 extremely doubtful if the last one is entitled to any racial distinction. 



There are probably but two species of Gorillas,* so far as our 

 present knowledge permits a decision to be reached. G. gorilla from 

 the Gaboon, and G. beringeri from German East Africa. These have 

 little in common with each other, and their widely separated habitats 

 preclude all likelihood of any approach or contact, but the status of the 

 Cameroon Gorillas has yet to be determined. 



LITERATURE OF THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES. 



1847. Wyman, in Journal of the Natural History Society of Boston. 

 Gorilla gorilla, first described from a skull as Troglodytes 

 gorilla. 



1848. Owen, in Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 

 Gorilla gorilla from the Gaboon, supposed to be a species of 

 Chimpanzee, and called Troglodytes savagci. 



1851. Owen, in Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. 

 A paper on the osteology of the Gorilla gorilla, and com- 

 parisons made between its skull and dentition and those of other 

 Anthropoid Apes. 



1859. Ozvcn, in Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. 



Memoir on an example of Gorilla gorilla received in spirits, 

 with a comparison of its external cl>aracters and those of other 

 Anthropoid Apes, and he decides that the Gorilla is nearest to 

 man, and not generically different from the Chimpanzeel 



