THE GORILLA. 535 



to its improvement), curiously inquisitive as to Ms umbrella, and 

 so on with visitor after visitor. If lie becomes over-excited by tbe 

 fun, a gentle box on the ear will bring him to order like a child — 

 like a child, only to be on the romp again immediately. He points 

 with the index finger, claps with his hands, pouts out his tongue, 

 feeds on a mixed diet, decidedly prefers roast meat to boiled, eats 

 strawberries — as I saw — with delicate appreciativeness, is exqui- 

 sitely clean and mannerly. The palms of his hands are beautifully 

 plump, soft, and black as jet. He has been eight months and a 

 half in the possession of the expedition, has grown some six inches 

 in that time, and is supposed to be between two and three years of 

 age." 



This little animal, which Dr. Falkenstein had received from a 

 Portuguese, who procured it from the negro that shot the mother 

 and then captured the young one, was sold to the Berlin Aquarium 

 for 20,000 marks (1000 Z.), which large sum went to the benefit of 

 the expedition funds. 



In Berlin this little gorilla created a great sensation, which is 

 evident from the following account written by the correspondent 

 of the British Medical Journal, in April, 1877 : — 



" I understand that the London season will be enlivened by a 

 distinguished visitor from this city whom the good people of 

 Berlin will sorely miss, for he is, perhaps, the most popular, as he 

 is certainly the most unique, inhabitant of the city, and the one 

 who has received now for many months the most numerous and 

 affectionately admiring visitors. I have been spending the morn- 

 ing with him, and have been infinitely diverted by his amusing and 

 lively ways, his frolicsome and friendly games, his grave courtesy 

 on occasion's, and his childlike goodnature and docility. If I add 

 that he has been alternately drinking claret and water out of a 

 glass with excellent grace and propriety; then turning over head 

 and heels, shaking hands at frequent intervals, then drum- 

 ming on his breast and on the floor ; chasing a httle boy and a 

 dog (his two favourite companions) round the room; handing 

 wine to his cousin ; and swinging on a trapeze seated by the side 

 of his boy friend ; it becomes necessary to explain that I have been 

 received in private audience by the gorilla, the much-prized 

 possession of the Berlin Aquarium. He is the only living gorilla 



