MONKEYS, APES AND THEIR KINDRED 157 



GORILLA. — Although no pictorial representation appears in this 

 volume of the Gorilla, the huge giant being so extremely rare and 

 difficult of capture that it is not often seen alive, a iew notes 

 concerning it must perforce be given. It is the largest and most 

 powerful of the Man-like Apes, and like the Mandrill it lives in 

 West Africa, especially where there are damp, impenetrable forests. 



Its habitat is restricted even on the great African continent, but 

 it has long been known by name, for we read of its being christened 

 by Hanno as long ago as 350 B.C. It is stated, however, that the 

 Carthaginian mentioned did not in all probability encounter the 

 Gorilla during his African wanderings, for although be brought 

 back some stuffed specimens of so-called Gorillas, "it is far more 

 likely that his captures were only large Baboons." It was not until 

 ages afterwards, as recently as 1847, that further light was thrown 

 upon this gigantic beast, for in that year Sir Richard Owen, to 

 whom we owe so much for our knowledge of extinct and living 

 animals, procured a skull from an American missionary which set 

 all doubts at rest as to the strange creature which Hanno, the 

 Carthaginian, had named so long previously. Then, a few years 

 afterwards, in 1852, a large number of Gorillas migrated to the 

 African Coast and were captured, and in 1853 the eminent Professor 

 astounded an audience at the Royal Institution with particulars of 

 the habits, etc., of the formidable beast under review. 



General characteristics that may be noted are the muscular powers 

 of the limbs and jaws; massive shoulders; large head on a short, 

 thick-set neck; large brawny arms and hands; short, thick fingers; 

 great spreading feet; intense black skin, clothed with short, coarse 

 dark-grey hair tipped with whitish ; reddish-brown hair on face and 

 head ; ruff under the chin ; small ears ; deeply sunken eyes which give 

 a horrid expression ; wide, gaping mouth ; powerful jaws and tusk- 

 like teeth. 



One would hardly imagine when looking at the huge form of this 

 mammalian giant that it should be capable of activity, more 

 especially among trees. Such, however, is the case, for we are told 

 by Du Chaillu, the famous French explorer, that it spends most 

 of its time in trees, and can spring and leap with remarkable adroit- 

 ness. For the most part the Gorilla is a vegetarian, partaking of 

 various kinds of fruit, and is especially fond of sugar-cane. It will 

 also feed upon insects, birds' eggs and honey. 



It is a shy creature, and in the dark recesses of the forest makes 



