Dr. J. E. Gray on the Habits of the Gorilla. 337 



streak diverging over the eyes and extending from the nostril to the 

 back of the head. The legs and tail brown with black spots, forming 

 more or less distinct streaks; toes 5'4, short, strong, subequal, covered 

 with distinct band-like scales ; the claws strong, conical, black. 

 Hab. The Gulf of Darien : Cherunha. 



May 28, 1861.— Dr. J. E. Gray, V.P., in the Chair. 



On the Habits of the Gorilla and other Tailless Long- 

 armed Apes. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., etc. 



Recently the habits of the Gorilla have excited considerable in- 

 terest ; and it has been described by some authors as a fierce and 

 untameable animal, which, by its strength, has driven all other wild 

 animals from its haunts. 



It is to be observed that the Ourang Outan was formerly charged 

 with all manner of iniquities, such as carrying off women and children, 

 defending itself with clubs, clawing people up by its hind feet as they 

 passed through the woods ; but as the habits of the animal became 

 known, these tales, found untrue, were transferred to the Gorilla 

 or the adult Chimpanzee*, and I believe with as little truth. 



Dr. Abel's account of the Ourang of Java, copied into Griffith's 

 1 Animal Kingdom,' vol. i. p. 239, and more recently Mr. Wallace's 

 paper on the Habits of the Orang Utan of Borneo, published in the 

 'Annals and Magazine of Natural History' for 1856 (vol. xviii.), 

 p. 26, have entirely dispelled all these delusions as regards the Ourang; 

 though it is said that " there is no animal in the jungle so strong as 

 he," p. 29. It is thus shown that strength is no proof of ferocity, 

 and all the stories of the Gorilla seem based on the fact that being 

 strong it must be very ferocious. Never was a greater fallacy. 



The Chimpanzee (according to M. Du Chaillu) " is a great tree- 

 climber, passing much of its time among the branches of the great 

 trees of Tropical Africa. It is thoroughly untameable (?) when 

 grown, still not fierce and malign like the GoHlla (?). It has never 

 been known to attack man, and its young are tractable and easily 

 tamed. Like its great congener, it is not gregarious." 



Raffles' description of the habits of the Siamang, copied into Grif- 

 fith's 'Animal Kingdom,' vol. i. p. 255, shows it to be a mild and 

 inoffensive animal, capable of being " easily tamed or, rather, recon- 

 ciled to bondage," but " unconquerably timid." 



Duvaucel describes the Wou-Wou (Hylobates agilh) as living 

 in pairs. It springs from tree to tree with wonderful agility, and 

 can therefore be seldom taken alive ; and this is the character given 

 by all authors I have met with who have observed the various species 

 or varieties of Gibbons alive in their native haunts. 



From these accounts, and from all that I can learn of the habits 

 of these animals from authentic sources, where there is no attempt 

 to enhance the danger of their chase, I am induced to believe that 



* This animal exhibits an instance of how names are changed. Battle called 

 it after the native name Engeco, Buffon Engoko, and shortened it to Jocko ; hence 

 Jacko, or Jackey — a name often applied to monkeys of all kinds. 



Ann. # Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. viii. 22 



