THE GOEILLA. 527 



sive one, for it is an exaggeration of the lowest and most forbid- 

 ding type of human physiognomy. 



" Their gait is shuffling," writes Dr. Savage,* " the motion of the 

 body, which is never upright as in man, but bent forward, is 

 somewhat rolling, or from side to side. The arms being longer 

 than those of the chimpanzee, it does not stoop as much in 

 walking ; hke that animal, it makes progression by thrusting its 

 arms forward, resting the hands on the ground, and then giving 

 the body a half-jumping, half-swinging motion between them. 

 In this act it is said not to flex the fingers, as does the chimpanzee, 

 resting on the knuckles, but to extend them, thus making a ful- 

 crum of the hand. "When it assumes the walking posture, to 

 which it is said to be much inclined, it balances its huge body by 

 flexing the arms upward. They live in bands, but are not so 

 numerous as the chimpanzees ; the females generally exceed the 

 other sex in number. My informants all agree in the assertion 

 that but one adult male is seen in a band ; that when the young 

 males grow up, a contest takes place for mastery, and the 

 strongest, by killing and driving out the others, establishes him- 

 self as the head of the community." 



Dr. Savage characterizes the stories about their carrying off" 

 women and vanquishing elephants as silly and preposterous. 



" They are exceedingly ferocious," he remarks, " and always 

 offensive in their habits, never running from man as does the 

 chimpanzee. They are objects of terror to the natives, and are 

 never encountered by them except on the defensive 



" It is said that when the male is first seen he gives a terrific 

 yell that resounds far and wide through the forest, something like 

 kh — ah ! kh — ah ! prolonged and shrill. His enormous jaws are 

 widely opened at each expiration, his underlip hangs over the 

 chin, and the hairy ridge and scalp is contracted upon the brow, 

 presenting an aspect of indescribable ferocity. The females and 

 young at the first cry quickly disappear ; he then approaches the 

 enemy in great fury, pouring out his horrid cries in quick 

 succession. The hunter awaits his approach with his gun 

 extended ; if his aim is not sure, he permits the animal to grasp 

 * See " Boston Journal of Natural History," 1847. 



