ORDER PRIMATES: PRIMATES 171 



in to traders. Natives capture them by spearing and by snaring. 

 (H. C. Raven, oral communication, March 17, 1937.) 



The Gorilla is utilized for experimental purposes in the study of 

 human diseases (Ministry of Colonies, Paris, in litt., November 7, 

 1936). 



Gorillas are decreasing but not disappearing. The cause of 

 depletion is native hunting for food. (Inspection of Waters and 

 Forests, Yaounde, in litt., January 12, 1937.) 



The number in French Cameroons is estimated at some thousands. 

 They are partially protected by law, one head being allowed on a 

 full license. (Paris Agency, in litt., November, 1936.) 



Nigeria. Coolidge (1929, p. 303) refers to the range as including 

 "the Western Cameroons [part of Nigeria], which is a comparatively 

 limited section centering around Mamfe or Dakbe and extending 

 west as far as the Cross River. A great many skulls come from this 

 region." 



Hay wood (1932, p. 32) reports the species from the borders of 

 Ogoja and Cameroons Provinces. 



In British Cameroons, Sanderson (1935, p. 26) reports Gorillas 

 from the mountains of Assumbo, about the headwaters of the Cross 

 River. They "are numerous in the Mountain Moss Forest belt, 

 where the natives record their movements minutely." 



"In Nigeria where a few exist the natives take an annual toll and 

 I do not think there are many" (C. W. Hobley, in litt., August 18, 

 1936). 



French Equatorial Africa. The Gorilla does some damage in the 

 banana plantations, but it is not important. It seldom attacks man 

 without provocation. There is no reason why it should not be abso- 

 lutely protected. Its northern and western limits are unknown; its 

 southern seems to be the Congo. (Lavauden, 1933, p. 30.) 



"Four complete specimens of the Coast Gorilla were procured 

 by the Vanderbilt Expedition of the Academy of Naturaf Sciences 

 of Philadelphia in the winter of 1934." Three "were killed by natives 

 in the neighborhood of Aboghi, forty miles southwest of Nola near 

 the west bank of the Sanga River." The fourth was secured "near 

 Barundu, about 15 miles east of the Sanga River and 22 miles north- 

 east of Nola." (Coolidge, 1936, p. 479.) 



Green (in Coolidge, 1936, pp. 491-492) reports Gorillas as abun- 

 dant in the region of Aboghi. "The old males appear to be somewhat 

 solitary, but small bands of four to ten were noted from tracking." 



"The expedition reported that gorillas were frequently killed on 

 the left bank [of the Sanga]. . . . 



"The field notes of Mr. Rehn and Mr. Green give us the impression 

 that gorillas were plentiful in the region from which these specimens 



