THE MONKEY TRIBE 



resting their weight upon the knuckles. They wander about 

 in family parties, which generally consist of the two parents 

 and their offspring of varying ages. They do not move about 

 at night. It is said that the female plaits the branches of 

 a tree-top into a platform, upon which are placed sticks 

 and leaves and moss, where the mother and her young 

 can sleep in comfort. The male sleeps at the foot of the 

 tree, ready to guard his family from the attacks of leopards, 

 which are the only animals the great ape really need 

 fear in his forest home. 



The Gorilla is a fairly strict vegetarian, restricting itself 

 chiefly to tender palm shoots, paw-paws, bananas, various 

 plum-like fruits and nuts ; to crack hard shells a stone is 

 requisitioned. Upon occasion it does not disdain honey, 

 insects, and birds' eggs. Though some travellers assert that 

 it eats flesh, there is no proof that it ever kills other animals 

 in order to obtain it. 



The great uncertainty that long existed concerning the 

 Gorilla was chiefly due to its shyness ; it is but rarely seen 

 even by the stealthy natives. When surprised it screams 

 with fright and attempts to make its escape. Should it be 



wounded or hampered in 

 its flighf it instantly shows 

 fight. Balancing itself by 

 swinging its arms, the 

 barking voice changes 

 into a terrific roar from 

 the deep cavernous breast 

 as it waddles to meet the 

 foe face to face. It uses 

 its gigantic arms as 

 weapons of offence, and 

 one blow of the huge paw 

 will break the breast-bone 

 or crush the skull, or lay 

 bare the entrails of the 



poor hunter. At close quarters it will adopt the tactics of 

 the bear, hugging its foe as it tears with its great teeth. 

 Should the hunter miss fire, it is said the animal will 

 rush in and snap the barrel in two between its powerful 



SKULL OF THE GORILLA. 



