236 APES AND MONKEYS 



manner he first terrorizes and then seizes his adversary, 

 tears open his breast and drinks the blood. I have never 

 seen a large gorilla in the act of assault. 



During my stay in the jungle I had a young gorilla in 

 captivity. I made use of him in studying the habits of his 

 race. I kept him tied with a long line which allowed him 

 room to play or climb about in the bushes, and at the same 

 time prevented him from escaping into the forest, as he 

 always tried to do the instant he was released. I fre- 

 quently released him for the purpose of watching his mode 

 of attack when recaptured. While being pursued he rarely 

 looked back, but when overtaken he invariably assailed his 

 captor. This gave me an opportunity of seeing his method 

 of attack. In this he displayed both skill and judgment. 

 As my native boy approached him he calmly turned one 

 side to the foe and, without facing the boy, rolled his eyes 

 in such a manner as to see him and at the same time con- 

 ceal his own purpose. When the boy came within reach, 

 the gorilla grasped him by thrusting the arm to one side 

 and obliquely backwards. When he had seized his adver- 

 sary by the leg, he instantly swung the other arm around 

 with a long sweep, so as to strike the boy a hard blow. 

 Then he used his teeth. He seemed to depend more upon 

 the blow than upon the grasp, but the latter served to hold 

 the object of attack within reach. In even- case he kept 

 one arm and one leer in reserve until he had seized his 

 adversary. 



It is true that these attacks were made upon an enemy 

 in pursuit, but his mode of doing this appeared to be 

 natural to him. He struck a severe blow and showed no 



