GORILLAS 265 



picture. The third time I did this I was gratified to find 

 the image of a gorilla, and also to discover the cause why 

 the other experiments had not succeeded. 



The deep shadows of the forest make it difficult to take 

 a photograph without giving it a time exposure, and when 

 the sun is under a cloud or on the wrong side of an object 

 success is quite impossible. The leaves which were shown 

 in the first two plates were only those which were most 

 exposed to the light, and all the lower part of the picture 

 was without detail. In the third trial it could be seen that 

 the sun was shining at the instant of exposure. A part of 

 the body of the gorilla was in the light, but most of it was 

 in the shadow of the leaves above it. The left side of the 

 head and face was quite distinct, so likewise were the left 

 shoulder and arm. The hand and the bait could not have 

 been distinguished except by their context. The right side 

 of the head, the arm, and most of the body were lost in 

 the view. The picture showed that the gorilla had taken 

 the bait with his left hand, and that he was in a crouching 

 posture at the moment. 



While the photograph was very poor as a work of art, it 

 was full of interest as an experiment. Although it did not 

 result in getting a good picture, I did not regard the effort 

 as a failure. It shows at least that such a thing is possi- 

 ble, and by careful efforts, often repeated, it could be made 

 a means of obtaining some novel pictures. A little inge- 

 nuity would widen the scope of this device and make it 

 possible to photograph birds, elephants, and everything else 

 in the forest. When I return to that place on ' a like 

 journey I shall carry the scheme into better effect. 



