OTHELLO 251 



One special trait of the gorilla which I wish to empha- 

 size is that he is one of the most taciturn of all the 

 family. This fact does not confirm my theory as to their 

 faculty of speech ; but it is a fact, so far as I observed, 

 although the natives say that he is as loquacious as the 

 chimpanzee. Among the specimens that I have studied, 

 both wild and in captivity, I have never heard but four 

 sounds that differed from each other, and of these only 

 two could properly be defined as speech. I do not include 

 the screaming sound described in another chapter. I have 

 not been able, so far, to translate the sounds that I have 

 heard, and they cannot be spelled with our letters. 



There is one sound which Othello often used. It was 

 not a speech sound, but a kind of whine, always coupled 

 with a deep sigh. When left alone for a time he became 

 oppressed with solitude. At such times he often heaved 

 a deep sigh and uttered this strange sound. The tone and 

 manner strongly appealed to the feelings of others, and 

 while he did not appear to address it to any one or have 

 any design in making it, it always touched a sympathetic 

 chord, and I was sometimes tempted to release him. 

 Another sound which was not within the pale of speech 

 was a kind of grumbling sound. This frequently occurred 

 when he was eating. It was not exactly a growl, but a 

 kind of complaint. Twice I heard this same sound made 

 by wild ones in the forest near my cage. The only thing 

 that I can compare it to is the habit that cats have of 

 growling while eating. It appears to be done only when 

 something is near. It is possibly intended to deter others 

 from trying to take the food. 



