PRIMATES-APES AND LEMURS 409 



the chimpanzee, being more sedate and quiet in their general 

 behaviour. They display considerable affection for those who 

 tend or are kind to them, and one little female that I had the 

 opportunity of constantly visiting became very devoted to me, 

 throwing her arms round my neck, kissing me on both cheeks, 

 and evincing every mark of pleasure at my arrival. 



The Chimpanzee (Troglodytes niger) is African in range, being 

 found on the coast of Guinea and farther inland. It stands about 

 four feet high, and has very dark, almost black hair, a broad face, 

 small nose, large mouth and upper lip, large brow-ridges, and large 

 ears. The arms are long, and the hand is narrow but as long as 

 the foot. The sole of the foot can rest flat on the ground when 

 the animal stands or walks erect. The backbone shows the be- 

 ginning of the curves characteristic of Man. The general expression 

 of the face is singularly human, the eyes being wonderfully ex- 

 pressive and twinkling when the Chimpanzee is excited and pleased. 

 The animal is essentially a forest-dweller, though it is said to spend 

 a good deal of its time on the ground rather than among the 

 branches. It appears to be social in its habits, and a colony of 

 Chimpanzees will often make serious raids upon banana and other 

 plantations. Not only is it the most human in appearance of all 

 the great Anthropoid Apes, but it is the most imitative of the 

 habits of Man, and a glance at the photographs facing pages 401 

 and 408 will show how singularly human and expressive is the face. 



The Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) is the largest and most powerful of 

 the Anthropoid Apes, and is found only in a very restricted area 

 between the Niger and the Congo in Western Africa. Owing to 

 its shy, retiring habits, and fierce, savage nature, it has so far been 

 impossible to study this great Ape as closely as has been done with 

 the so closely related chimpanzee. It is stated that the Gorillas 

 go about the dense forests in families, with but one adult male, who 

 sooner or later has to dispute his right to leadership of the band 

 with another male, whom he slays, or is himself vanquished. The 

 Gorilla is an absolute contrast in character to the lively and readily 

 tamed chimpanzee, being gloomy, ferocious, and utterly untam- 

 able. Monsieur du Chaillu's statement that the enraged Gorilla 

 beats its breast a statement that has been challenged with the 

 singular asperity and bitterness peculiar to self-appointed, ignorant 

 critics has been proved to be absolutely correct, for a young Gorilla 



