48 



THE APE. 



In stature, the Gorilla is considerably larger 

 than its relative the Chimpanzee, and, so far as 

 can be judged from such slight knowledge as we 

 have, it does not possess nearly as much intelli- 

 gence as the latter has frequently shown. The 

 Chimpanzee is very sociable, and most affection- 

 ate in disposition, having a strong attachment 

 for its keeper, and exhibiting every sign of un- 

 easiness when separated from him. 



It is also exceedingly playful, and tries every 

 variety of tricks with any other of its kind that 

 may be confined in the same inclosure. Of course 

 there is sometimes a great difference between in- 

 dividuals ; some being cross and surly, and show- 

 ing a disinclination to be handled much, although, 

 so far as I have seen them, this character appears 

 to be exceptional. 



The Chimpanzees are also the cleverest of all the 

 Apes. They live in society in the forest. They 

 build huts to protect them from the sun and 

 heavy rain : for this purpose they use the bark, 

 the large leaves, and the branches of trees. 

 They carry big clubs in their hands. They join 

 in parties, and so keep off the attacks of wild 

 beasts. The Elephant is no match for them, 

 though he is so big. 



The following story, which I read some few 

 years since, shows some difference between the 

 habits of the two animals : 



" The Chimpanzee, though in a declining state 

 of health, and rendered peevish and irritable by 

 bodily suffering, exhibited much superior marks of 

 intelligence to his companions ; he was active, 

 quick, and observant of everything that passed 

 around him ; no visitor entered the apartment in 

 which he was kept, and no old one left it, with- 

 out attracting his attention. 



" We took advantage of an opportunity, whilst 

 his head was turned to observe a person coming 



in, to secrete his plate ; for a few seconds he 

 looked round to see what had become of it, but 

 not finding it, began to pout and fret exactly like 

 a spoiled child ; and perceiving a young lady who 

 happened to be standing near him, laughing, or, 

 perhaps, suspecting her to be the delinquent, he 

 flew at her in the greatest rage, and would have 

 probably bitten her had she not got beyond his 

 reach. Upon having his plate restored, he took 

 care to prevent the repetition of the joke by hold- 

 ing it firmly with one hand, while he fed himself 

 with the other." 



The large Apes do not generally go in troops ; 

 a few individuels only being found together. The 

 old males are more savage than the females, and 

 resist all attempts to capture them, by biting se- 

 verely, and also by dealing heavy blows with 

 their powerful arms. They move rapidly, though 

 awkwardly, over the ground, going on all fours, 

 and walking on the knuckles of their front hands, 

 the hind ones being open and placed flat down 

 like a foot. The females carry their young upon 

 their backs, or else clinging to their breasts, their 

 long fur enabling the little ones to hold on with 

 a most tenacious grip, so as to make it almost 

 impossible to tear them away even after the dam 

 has been killed. 



But it is upon the trees that the Apes appear 

 to the greatest advantage, their long, powerful 

 arms enabling them to reach considerable dis- 

 tances, and they swing themselves from branch 

 to branch with such easy strength and rapidity 

 that it is impossible for a man to keep up with 

 them in the forest. They pass the night in tlie 

 trees ; and several species are in the habit, after 

 selecting a fork in the highest part near the 

 trunk, of breaking off good-sized branches, and 

 by laying them across each other in every direc- 

 tion, constructing a rude kind of nest, in which 



