THE BALD CHIMPANZEE. 3 1 



strength of his fists. Physically low as he now is, he can still bend 

 up like a cane an iron rod an inch in diameter. I thought of Carac- 

 tacus as I watched him in his prison. There is much dignity in his 

 silent woe and resignation, and I fervently hope that he will never get 

 into the hands of vivisectors." 



THE BALD CHIMPANZEE. 



The TsCHEGO or Nschiego Mbouve, Troglodytes calvus, of Du 

 Chaillu differs in many respects from the Chimpanzee. A female 

 five years old in the Zoological Gardens at Dresden, is remarkable 

 for a head much smaller in proportion than the Chimpanzee's ; the body 

 is longer, the shoulders broader, the loins finer, the chest rounder, 

 the stomach less prominent than the corresponding parts of the Gorilla 

 or Chimpanzee. The arms are long, but the hands very narrow and 

 thin ; the thumb is long and weak, the two middle fingers very strong ; 

 the legs are longer than those of the other manlike apes, the feet well 

 formed. The eyebrows are shaggy and prominent ; the eyes small, 

 brown, lively, surrounded with wrinkles. The nose is flattened; the lips, 

 very mobile, are more protruding than the Chimpanzee. The face and a 

 great part of the fore part of the head are bare of hair, and Du Chaillu 

 therefore proposes for this ape the name of Troglodytes ealvus, or the 

 bald Chimpanzee. Du Chaillu says that the Nschiego Mbouve builds its 

 leafy nest in the boughs of the highest trees. The nest is composed of 

 small interlaced branches well thatched with leaves and impenetrable to 

 water ; fixed by firmly tied bands, it is generally six to eight feet across 

 and dome-formed. The male and female join in building the nest, but they 

 live on different trees. These retreats are seldom used for more than ten 

 days, by which time the animal has ravaged the district around its habi- 

 tation and is compelled to move elsewhere in quest of food. Du Chaillu 

 killed a female Nschiego carrying her young one in her arms. He took 

 the little creature home, and in a few days it was so completely tamed 

 that he could allow it to wander at liberty without fear of it running 

 away. He could not move a step without being followed by the 

 youngster; neither could he sit down without having the animal climb- 

 ing on his knees, or hiding its head in his bosom. The poor little thing 

 found extreme pleasure in being caressed and nursed. 



It was possessed of great intelligence, and showed wonderful cun 



