282 APES AND MONKEYS 



but should never be warmer than the usual temperature of 

 tropical rain. The animal should not be required to take 

 a bath in this way, but should be left to his own choice 

 about it. 



The house should contain a thin partition that could be 

 removed at will, and the end of the building farthest from 

 the pool should be occupied by a strong tree, either 

 dead or alive, to afford the inmates proper exercise. 

 The south side of the house should be of glass, and at 

 least half of the top should be of the same. These parts 

 should be provided with heavy canvas curtains, to be 

 drawn over them so as to adjust or regulate the sunlight. 

 In the summer time the building should be kept quite 

 open, so as to admit the air and the rain. The rule that 

 strangers or visitors should not annoy or tease them should 

 be enforced without respect to person, time, or rank. 

 No visitor should be allowed on any terms to give them 

 any kind of food. The reasons for these precautions are 

 obvious to any one familiar with the keeping of animals ; 

 but in the case of the gorilla their observance cannot be 

 waived with imp unit}". 



The ape does not need to be pampered. On the con- 

 trary, he should be permitted to rough it. Half of the 

 gorillas that have ever been in captivity have died from 

 overnursino-. Bv nature they are strong and robust if the 

 proper conditions exist ; but when these are changed they 

 become frail and tender creatures. They should not be 

 restricted to a vegetable diet nor limited to a few articles 

 of food, but should be allowed to select such things as they 

 prefer to eat. I have grave doubts as to the wisdom of 



