HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
ANTHROPOIDS. 
THE GROUP OF ANTHROPOIDS : 
A COMPARISON. 
There are at present in the Dublin Zoological 
Gardens three varieties of those apes which most 
nearly resemble man in their structure and appear- 
ance : the Gibbon from the neighbourhood of 
Malay, and the Chimpanzee and Gorilla from the 
West Coast of Africa. All of these are young and 
about the same age, so that a comparison between 
them may fairly be made. The Hoolock Gibbon 
from Burmah and North West India is most 
remarkable on account of the very long arms on a 
small slight body. These are so long that they 
touch the ground when it stands upright. When 
it walks upright, which it sometimes does, it 
commonly supports itself by 
the backs of its fingers on 
the ground although it can 
walk quite well with its 
hands held above its head. 
The face has a human ap- 
pearance than that of the 
other anthropoids, having a 
fair attempt at a nose and 
chin. A white band on the 
forehead is peculiar to this 
species. Its movements are 
remarkably quick and 
graceful, although the full 
extent of its abilities in 
jumping from bough to 
bough, almost like flying, 
cannot be seen properly in 
its cage, large though it be. 
Commonly, these animals 
are very docile. This par- 
ticular one was reared a 
pet, but has never changed 
from its first love. It is 
now more likely to inflict 
some injury on its visitors 
than to exhibit any mark of appreciation. The 
most apparent trait in its character is its ability to 
make a fearful noise which can be heard all over 
the Gardens. Its cry, which starts at dawn and 
continues on the slightest excuse all day until 
sunset, consists of a rapid series of whining barks 
ending in a falsetto ear-piercing shriek not to be 
forgotten by anyone who hears it at close quarters. 
In the cage adjoining the Gibbon may be seen 
the Gorilla and Chimpanzee together, while two 
other Chimpanzees occupy the neighbouring 
cages. The three Chimpanzees differ considera- 
bly, but not more than three children often do in 
one family; one shows boisterous humour, another 
quiet confiding playfulness, while the third has the 
gentler habits of a somewhat delicate child al- 
though at present in as good health as the other 
Dublin Zoo— GORILLA and CHIMPANZEE 
two, but all exhibit an equal amount of intelligence 
in their various actions. 
Stand awhile before the cage containing the 
Chimpanzee and Gorilla; a short time may well be 
spent watching the differences which exist between 
them. The Chimpanzee has very black hair and a 
comparatively light face, large ears, and extra- 
ordinarily mobile lips which can be protruded 
nearly a couple of inches when eating or when 
making a loud trumpet-like call. These animals 
can make very definite vocal soud's, and may be 
noticed also to make use of sounds produced by 
their hands on the cage walls, or by shaking the 
bars, in order to attract the attention of persons 
they recognise outside their cages. One we for- 
merly had made a buzzing sound by forcing air 
between his tightly held lips when he thought he 
should get something to eat. But it is very hard 
to make certain if any 
sound is used by different 
animals with the same 
object. Many of the inhabi- 
tants of the Monkey House 
make sounds which can be 
imitated, and to which one 
or sometimes others will 
respond, but it is not 
always that a fresh speci- 
men will recognise it. But 
even if the sounds which are 
made by the Chimpanzees 
are not speech, they answer 
their purpose by attracting 
attention. In other ways 
also it can easily be seen 
that the Chimpanzees are 
mentally far ahead of the 
other anthropoids. The 
quick definite actions and 
rapidity of thought, as well 
as the number of these ani- 
mals taught to perform on 
the stage, show that they 
are capable of receiving in- 
struction and profiting by it. "Sally," who lived 
in the London Gardens from 1883 to 1891, was 
taught to count straws, which it did quite accur- 
ately up to five, and fairly accurately up to ten. 
Watch any one of the three Chimpanzees. Very 
little passes which they do not sec. They recog- 
nise a friend as soon as the door of the Monkey 
House opens, and by extra activity and noise try 
to attract attention. 
So different from all this is the quiet morose 
Gorilla, quiet because of her apparent carelessness 
towards her surroundings. The Gorilla has some- 
what greyish or brownish hair, thick and short, 
giving a woolly look to her body and head, small 
ears, very wide nostrils, and a painfully human 
face when seen in certain aspects. She already 
shows she cannot be trusted like the others, and 
