Gorilla Hunting 



when fighting. These animals have no cheek pouch and of 

 course no tail. 



With a weight approximating four hundred and fifty lbs.* 

 the measurements of my specimen were as follows : — 



Standing height (crown to sole of foot) . . 63 J inches 



Span of arms 

 Chest 

 Fore arm 

 Length of foot 

 Length of hand 



90 

 61 



i6i 



12 



10 



I have given above the animal's " standing height," but 

 as a matter of fact, contrary to the popular theory, a gorilla 

 seldom walks erect, unless when using its hands to support 

 itself by branches overhead or when alarmed or attacked. 



Non-arboreal in habit, this monster ape would seem to 

 have no enemies, failing man ; and even man, the most 

 dreaded of all the animal world, holds little fear for the gorilla 

 in his inaccessible home. As before described they never 

 sleep in trees but prefer to make a nest or shelter on the 

 ground, frequently in the centre of a clump of bamboo stems. 

 Judging by my observations, it may be said they scarcely 

 ever cUmb trees and moreover are not partial to fruit or 

 nuts, preferring to feed on grass herbage and bamboo leaves. 

 Bearing this out is the fact that seeds are never to be seen 

 in their droppings (like those of a chimpanzi for instance) — 

 which resemble those of a horse. The gorilla walks squarely 

 on all fours, with the fingers of its hands doubled under, so 

 that the backs of them are in contact with the ground. 



It was now my task, after photographing and filming my 

 prize to have it carried into camp for the skinning and curing 



• Over 32 stone. 



87 



