I THE GORILLA 67 



" Their dwellings, if they may be so called, are similar to 

 those of the 'Chimpanzee, consisting simply of a few sticks and 

 leafy branches, supported by the crotches and limbs of trees : 

 they afford no shelter, and are occupied only at night. 



"They are exceedingly ferocious, and always offensive in 

 their habits, never running from man, as does the Chimpanzee. 

 They are objects of terror to the natives, and are never en- 

 countered by them except on the defensive. The few that 

 have been captured were killed by elephant hunters and native 

 traders, as they came suddenly upon them while passing through 

 the forests. 



"It is said that when the male is first seen he gives a 

 terrific yell, that resounds far and wide through the forest, 

 something like kh ah ! kh ah ! prolonged and shrill. His 

 enormous jaws are widely opened at each expiration, his under 

 lip hangs over the chin, and the hairy ridge and scalp are con- 

 tracted upon the brow, presenting an aspect of indescribable 

 ferocity. 



"The females and young, at the first cry, quickly disappear. 

 He then approaches the enemy in great fury, pouring out his 

 horrid cries in quick succession. The hunter awaits his approach 

 with his gun extended ; if his aim is not sure, he permits the 

 animal to grasp the barrel, and as he carries it to his mouth 

 (which is his habit) he fires. Should the gun fail to go off, the 

 barrel (that of the ordinary musket, which is thin) is crushed 

 between his teeth, and the encounter soon proves fatal to the 

 hunter. 



" In the wild state, their habits are in general like those of 

 the Troglodytes niger, building their nests loosely in trees, 

 living on similar fruits, and changing their place of resort from 

 force of circumstances." 



Dr. Savage's observations were confirmed and 

 supplemented by those of Mr. Ford, who communi- 

 cated an interesting paper on the Gorilla to the 

 Philadelphian Academy of Sciences, in 1852. 

 With respect to the geographical distribution of 



