26 QUADRUMANA. 



leaves ; and when it has laid waste an extensive space in satisfying its 

 enormous appetite, it goes elsewhere to seek a supply. It knows when 

 certain regions are fruitful, owing to the changes of the seasons, and 

 periodically visits them. It does not live in trees, and its huge size pie- 

 vents it from leaping like the lesser monkeys from bough to bough ; it 

 jnly climbs to get food. Its favorite food is the wild sugar-cane, and 

 a nut of exceeding hardness, which it crushes in its iron jaws. The 

 young Gorilla, Du Chaillu thinks, sleep in trees, the older ones on the 

 ground with their backs leaning against a trunk. The Gorilla is not 

 social ; they are found most often in pairs. If a solitary male is met 

 he is vicious and dangerous. Young Gorillas associate in fours and 

 fives. They run on all fours, and owing to their acuteness of hearing 

 it is difficult to get near them. There is no evidence to prove that 

 they ever build for themselves huts or shelter. The adult Gorilla is 

 very wary, and the hunter may spend a whole day without seeing one. 

 " When I have surprised a couple of Gorillas," says Du Chaillu, "the 

 male has usually been seated on a rock or against a tree in the darkest 

 corner of the jungle. The female sat eating beside him, and, what was 

 very singular, it was nearly always she who gave alarm by taking to 

 flight, uttering at the same time piercing cries. But the male remained 

 seated for a moment, and knitting together his savage countenance, 

 slowly stood upright. Throwing a malicious glance at the invaders of 

 his retreat, he then commenced to beat his breast, to elevate his great 

 head, and to utter his formidable roars. The hideous aspect of the 

 animal at this moment it is impossible to describe. Looking at him, I 

 forgave my brave native hunters for being full of superstitious fears, and 

 I ceased to be astonished at the strange and marvellous stories current 

 among them with regard to the Gorillas." 



The Gorilla does not make use of a stick as a weapon ; it only uses 

 in its assaults its arms, feet, and teeth. 'rVith a single blo\'C' of its foot, 

 armed as it is with short, curved nails, it disembowels a man or frac- 

 tures his skull. In attacking this ferocious animal, experienced hunters 

 always reserve their shot until the last moment, for the report of fiicarms 

 irritates the terrible beast, and if the wound is not fatal, the Gorilla flings 

 itself with incredible violence on its aggressor, crushing at the same 

 moment both weapon and hunter. 



When it is attacked, it utters a short, jerking, and acute bark, like 

 that of an angry dog ; to this succeeds a low growling like distant thun- 



