APES 



April 11, 1848, Professor Owen read a supplementary note 

 on the great chimpanzee, and led him to adopt the name 

 proposed by its discoverer, of Troglodytes Gorilla, adopting 

 the term used by Hanno in describing the wild men 

 which he discovered on the coast of Africa during his 

 famous voyage. 



On January 11, 1859, Professor Owen read a very ex- 

 haustive paper upon the external characteristics and 

 affinities of the gorilla, specimens, more or less perfect, 

 having been received in spirits. In 1861 we had the 

 adventures and explorations by Paul B. du Chaillu, who 

 brought to England skins and skulls of adult gorillas, and 

 gave full descriptions of the habits of these and other 

 members of the family; and, although much doubt was 

 at the time expressed of the truth of Du Chaillu's state- 

 ments, many of them have since that time been fully 

 verified. 



There is always considerable difficulty in obtaining 

 authentic information with reference to the history of 

 almost all important animals. The owners have, naturally, 

 a wish to sell them at the highest price, and are not 

 always very particular in their statements as to the cost 

 and trouble they have had in obtaining them ; and it is 

 sometimes useless and vexatious to make inquiries that 

 are answered by such unlikely stories, that, if published, 

 would be scouted as absurd fables. Such being the 

 ordinary condition under which animals of this kind are 

 offered for sale, it is a waste of time to attempt, in most 

 cases, to ascertain the truth. 



I have taken the liberty of reproducing the portrait, 

 the original block having been destroyed by fire. 



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