XVII MENTAL CHARACTERS 57 5 



both animals the thiiinh is not of much use, and this digit is 

 more retrograde in the Gorilla, not only in proportionate length 

 but in its muscular supply. The hip girdle tells the same tale. 

 It is broader in the Gorilla, and the glutaei muscles are more 

 prominent, all tliese features being connected with the more 

 erect gait. 



The brain of both animals have been studied, but not in the 

 case of the Gorilla from a sufficiently large number of examples to 

 make any generalisations of great value. On the whole, tlie 

 Gorilla has the larger brain, but tliis must lie discounted by tlie 

 fact that it also has the larger body. It is a remarkable fact tliat 

 the Gorilla's liver is much more like that of lower Apes tlian tlie 

 liver of other Anthropoids. It has, as has tlie Chimpanzee, 

 laryngeal sacs. The general conclusion concerning 'the relative 

 position of the two African Anthropoids seems to be that the 

 Gorilla is the more primitive ; and as thus it must approach more 

 nearly to the original parent than does the Chimpanzee, it may be 

 said that it also comes rather nearer to Man, since the Chimpanzee 

 has travelled away from the common stock on another line. The 

 detailed likenesses to Man, however, are not to be unduly dwelt 

 upon ; for they mainly come from a tendency to assume the 

 plantigrade mode of progression. 



In mental characteristics there is the widest difference be- 

 tween the two Apes that we are considering. The Chimpanzee 

 is lively, and — at least when young — teachable and tameable. 

 The Gorilla, on the other hand, is gloomy and ferocious, and 

 quite untameable. When angry the Gorilla beats its breast, a 

 statement that was originally made, we believe, by M. du Chaillu, 

 but which has been disputed, though it appears to be perfectly 

 true. A young Gorilla, exhibited some time since in the Gardens 

 of the Zoological Society, could be observed to do so. The cry 

 of the Chimpanzee is different from the " howl " of the Gorilla. 

 An immense amount has been written upon the ways of this 

 animal in its own home, including much that is legendary. The 

 Gorilla has been said to lurk in the depths of the forest, and to 

 stretch down a prehensile foot to grasp and strangle an un- 

 fortunate black man passing below. It is said, too, to vanquish 

 the Elephant by hitting it hard upon the trunk with a stout 

 stick, and to crumple up the barrel of a rifle with its powerful 

 teeth. 



