SOCIAL TRAITS 233 



relations between different families, but within the same 

 household there is apparent harmony. The gorilla is 

 nomadic and rarely ever spends two nights in the same 

 place. Each family roams about from place to place in 

 the bush in search of food, and wherever they may be 

 when night comes on, there they select a place to sleep. 



The largest family of gorillas that I ever heard of was 

 estimated to contain twenty members. The usual number 

 is rarely ever more than ten or twelve. The chimpanzees 

 appear to go in somewhat larger groups than these. Some- 

 times in a single group of chimpanzees as many as three, 

 or even four, adult males have been seen. When the young 

 gorilla approaches the adult state he leaves the family 

 group, finds himself a mate, and sets out in the world for 

 himself. I observe that, as a rule, when one gorilla is seen 

 alone in the forest it is usually a young male about reach- 

 ing the state of manhood. It is probable that he has then 

 set out for himself, and that he is in search of a wife. 

 When two only are seen together they usually prove to be 

 a young male and a young female. It sometimes occurs 

 that three adults are seen with two or three children. In 

 large families are seen young ones of different ages, from 

 one year old to five or six years old. The older children 

 are always fewer in number than the younger ones. I have 

 once seen a large female quite alone except for her babe. 

 Whether she lived alone or was only temporarily absent 

 from her family I had no means of ascertaining. 



The gorilla chief does not provide food for his family. 

 On the contrary, it is said that they provide for him. I 

 have been informed, on two occasions and from different 



