GORILLA 215 



in concealment in the adjoining woods, having probably been frightened 

 away by the noise." 



Then Du Chaillu states "this incident led me to modify somewhat 

 the opinions I had expressed in 'Adventures in Equatorial Africa,' 

 regarding some of the habits of the gorilla. I there said that I believed 

 it impossible to capture an adult female alive, but I ought to have 

 added, unless wounded. I have also satisfied myself that the gorilla 

 is more gregarious than I formerly considered it to be ; at least it goes 

 in bands more numerous than those I saw in my former journey. 

 Then I never saw more than five together. I have myself seen, on my 

 present expedition, two of these bands of gorillas numbering eight or 

 ten, and have had authentic accounts from the natives of other similar 

 bands. It is true that, when gorillas become aged, they seem to be more 

 solitary, and to live in pairs, or, as in the case of old males, quite alone. 

 I have been assured by the negroes that solitary and aged gorillas are 

 sometimes seen almost white ; the hair becomes grizzled with age, and 

 I have no doubt that the statement of their becoming occasionally 

 white with extreme old age is quite correct." 



These facts, the gregariousness of the Gorilla, and the change 

 in the color of the hair, raise grave doubts as to their being any number 

 of distinct species. If there were as many as are recognized, with 

 much reserve, in this work, and they are accustomed to rove in con- 

 siderable number, the country suitable for their habitation is too 

 limited in extent to keep these bands from meeting and mingling 

 together, which would be fatal to the maintenance of distinct species, 

 and as some supposed forms owe their distinct position mainly to the 

 color of the hair, (cranial characters being altogether too unreliable), 

 if this is merely indicative of age, nothing remains upon which to 

 establish a distinctive character. Du Chaillu was apparently the first 

 European to meet with and kill this savage creature in its native 

 forest, and although his description of their habits and actions when 

 they advanced to fight in defense of themselves and families was 

 received with much doubt, and by certain persons almost with derision, 

 yet accounts of this animal related by others who have penetrated its 

 secluded haunts, have proved that he was fairly correct in his state- 

 ments. He has given in his book, "Expeditions and Explorations in 

 Equatorial Africa" a long account of the habits of the Gorilla from 

 which the following passages are taken. 



"The gorilla," he says on commencing his narrative, "does not 

 lurk in trees by the roadside and drag up unsuspicious passers-by 

 in its claws and choke them to death in its vice-like paws ; it does not 



