254 THE STORY OF THE GORILLA. 



A full-grown male, if standing- in a perfectly upright position, will gen- 

 erally measure rather more than six feet in height; and since his body is 

 much more bulky, and his limbs are longer than those of a man, he is con- 

 siderably the largest representative of his kind. As in the chimpanzee, there 

 are distinct eyebrows on the forehead and lashes to the lids of the eyes. The 

 nose has a relatively long bridge, and its extremity is high, conical, and 

 widely expanded. The upper lip is remarkable for its shortness; and the 

 whole of the dark skin in the region of the nose, cheeks, and mouth is 

 marked by a number of wrinkled folds. The massive jaws are extremely 

 projecting, and with their huge tusks, or dog teeth, complete the repulsive 

 aspect imparted to the expression by the overhanging eyebrows. The ears 

 are comparativejy small and appear to be fastened above and behind to the 

 sides of the face. The head is joined to the trunk by a very short and thick 

 neck, W'hich gives the appearance of its being set into the shoulders; and 

 the term "bull-necked" is therefore strictly applicable to the creature. This 

 great thickness and power of the neck is largely due to the backward pro- 

 jection of the skull, and the tall spines surmounting the vertebra of the neck. 

 The muscles of the shoulders and chest are equally powerful, as is essential 

 for the movements' of the mighty arms. 



Although when driven to close quarters the gorilla is doubtless one of 

 the most terrible of foes, yet it appears certain that very exaggerated 

 accounts have been given of the natural ferocity. Herr von Koppenfels 

 informs us that so "long as the gorilla is unmolested he does not attack 

 men; and, indeed, rather avoids the encounter." And when these creatures 

 catch sight of men, they generally rush off precipitately in the opposite 

 direction through the underwood, giving vent at the same time to peculiar 

 guttural cries. It appears that many gorillas are killed by the natives with 

 the aid of a weighted spear suspended by a cunningly devised system 'of 

 cords in the creature's path. Others are, however, undoubtedly shot by the 

 negroes, although it would seem that, at least in many instances, such 

 animals have been accidentally met by the hunters as they travelled through 

 the forest rather than deliberately sought out and tracked. 



