2 WILD BEASTS OF THE WOBLD 



bald-headed variety, which has generally been ranked as a distinct 

 species, the Bald Chimpanzee (Anthropopithecus cafous). 



Local racial distinctions do undoubtedly exist, but, in view of the 

 great amount of variation, it seems best to regard all Chimpanzees -as 

 forming members of one species ; none of them, at all events," could be 

 mistaken for any other ape. 



The home of this animal is the forest region of Tropical Central Africa 

 from Uganda westwards ; most of the specimens seen in Europe, however, 

 have come from Loango and the Gaboon. Here the Chimpanzees live in 

 small bands of from five to ten, and spend much of their time on the 

 ground, though often ascending trees to gather wild fruit, on which, 

 with other vegetable produce, they subsist! As some specimens show 

 a liking for animal food-^ISally, for instance, would even kill and eat 

 pigeons and rats — they no doubt, like most of the monkey tribe, are not 

 by any means strict vegetarians. 



The gait of these apes, although fairly rapid, is awkward-looking ; they 

 go on all fours, doubling under the first two joints of the fingers of the 

 hand, so that in front they rest upon their knuckles. They can stand 

 and walk erect; but do not do so much as a rule, although a little female, 

 Daisy, formerly in the Zoo, was much in the habit of acting the biped, 

 clasping a duster over her stomach with her hands meanwhile. 



Being powerful animals — even the female being a match for a strong 

 man — they probably have hardly any enemies to flee from, with the 

 exception of the Leopard ; and even he might think twice before attacking 

 an adult, let alone a party of them. 



The young Chimpanzee at birth clings closely to its mother, and is 

 thus carried about, after the fashion of monkeys generally. At night its 

 mother takes it to bed in a tree, where a nest or platform of twigs, &c, 

 has been built ; for the construction of this a low elevation is preferred, 

 no doubt for the sake of shelter from the wind. 



Occasionally they are said to associate in large bands, and to indulge 

 in a sort of concert, accompanying their howls and yells by drumming 

 with sticks on hollow logs : this is very probably correct, as many animals 

 take a pleasure in making noises by any means in their power. 



