i5 



MAMMALIA—ORDER I.— PRIMA TES. 



oval contour, thereby approximating to tlie human type. In height the male 

 gorilla ((?. mmgzi) may exceed six feet, although the female does not ineasure 

 more than four and a half feet. The general colour of the animal is black or 

 blackish, tlie whole skin of the face being glossy black, scattered over with a 

 few hairs. The geographical range of this gigantic ape is exceedingly limited, 

 being confined to that part of the West Coast of Equatorial Africa lying between 

 the Camerun mountains and the Congo River. Like chimpanzees, gorillas 

 live in family parties, although these do not combine to form communities ; 

 and they are likewise stated to construct arboreal resting-places for the femah 

 and young. They walk in a shuffling manner somewhat similar to that 



adopted by chimpanzees, but as their arms are 

 longer they are not compelled to stoop so 

 much, and the open hand, in place of the bent 

 knuckle, is stated to be put on the ground 

 in this mode of progression. The yell of 

 the male gorilla is described as a terrific 

 sound ; and these animals appear to be not 

 only ferocious, but likewise extremely courag- 

 eous, always advancing boldly to meet a foe, 

 and never running away like a chimpanzee. 

 As in all the man-like apes, the female pro- 

 duces but a single young at a birth, which is 

 nurtured with tender solicitude, and defended 

 to the last extremity. When at rest, the 

 gorilla generally assumes a squatting posture, 

 with the arms folded across the breast ; and 

 in sleep lies stretched out at full length either 

 on the back or on one side, with an arm 

 under the head. Extremely delicate in con- 

 stitution when removed from its native 

 haunts, this ape rarely survives captivity long 

 even in Africa, while the climate of Europe soon puts an end to its existence. 

 The first skeleton of the gorilla which reached England was presented to 

 ths Royal College of Surgeons by Captain Harris in 1851. This was followed 

 in 18.58 by an entire gorilla preserved in spirits, which was sent from the 

 Gabun to the British ]\Iuseum. Of the few live specimens which have 

 reached Europe, none seem to have survived more than fifteen or eighteen 

 months. The earliest to reach England appears to have been one which, in 

 1880, was the property of an itinerant showman, who mistook it for a chimpan- 

 zee, and did not discover his mistake until after the animal's death. Fifteen 

 years later a young male gorilla was procured from the natives liy the 

 German Loango Expedition, and taken to Berlin. This animal was fed on fruits 

 and goat's milk, and under kindly treatment became so tractable that he was 

 allowed to wander about the ship with little or no restraint. He showed some 

 cunning and a tendency to mischief, but no evil propensities. He would pay 

 surreptitious visits to the store-room on occasion, and slyly help himself to 

 the dainties he affected, making off with unmistakable signs of guilty con- 

 sciousness when disturbed or caught in the act. Arrived at Berlin, he was 

 placed in the Aquarium, where for fifteen months he was the object of much 

 attention. He died of consumption, as did his successor, who arrived at 

 Berlin in 1883, and died the following year. A young gorilla which reached 

 the Zoological Gardens, London, a few years ago, lived but a few months. 



Fig. 8.— The Oeang-ITtaii 

 iSimia satyrus). 



