342 Zoology. 



to the Apono, Ishogo, and Ashango territories, meeting on the way a 

 curious race of negro dwarfs, of nomadic habits and of a very low type. 

 This journey came to an untimely end. At a village over 400 miles from 

 the point of departure one of M. du Chaillu's men had the misfortune to 

 kill a native through the accidental explosion of a rifle. The enraged 

 villagers attacked the party, M. du Chaillu and his companions were 

 obliged to flee for their lives, and practically the whole of his instruments, 

 scientific collections, note-books, and photographs were abandoned and 

 lost in the jungle. The expedition effected its retreat only under great 

 difficulties, but eventually reached the territory of friendly tribes in 

 safety. This second journey, although a brief one, was very fruitful in 

 scientific results, and has always been regarded as of more permanent 

 value than the earlier and more protracted explorations of M. du Chaillu. 

 Bv the time he returned to London, in 1865, the Gorilla controversy had 

 to a large extent died out, and the fresh evidence which he was able to 

 adduce set the matter definitely at rest. There is little doubt, indeed, 

 that M. du Chaillu had himself largely to blame for the adverse criticism 

 encountered by his earlier statements. His first book was couched in the 

 form rather of a popular work of adventure than of a serious and sober 

 account of a series of learned researches. Not content with recounting 

 what he had himself seen, he embellished his narrative with a good deal 

 of more or less sensational hearsay, probably derived from native sources. 

 Hence matter-of-fact zoological experts, accustomed, above all things, to 

 the precise terms and data of scientific exposition, were prone to put down 

 as mere " traveller's tales " the stories of a man who, although given 

 somewhat to exaggeration, had yet a very solid substratum of truth for his 

 assertions. The matter, however, is now at rest, and no one doubts the 

 existence of the great monkey. 



After his expedition of 1865, the results of which were embodied in 

 two further books, M. du Chaillu carried out no more explorations in 

 Africa. For some years he lived in America and England, delivering a 

 large number of public lectures, in which he recounted his experiences with 

 much success. In the seventies and eighties he turned his attention to 

 Scandinavia, and visited many of the more remote parts of Norway and 

 Sweden, as the result of which he published a very fascinating book, 

 entitled, " The Land of the Midnight Sun." During his life in those 

 northern countries he made many researches into their ancient records, 

 buildings, and folklore, and his work, " The Viking Age," published in 

 1887, dealing with the early history, manners, and customs of the 

 ancestors of the English-speaking nations, is a classic. 



In person, M. du Chaillu was well equipped for the arduous toils of 

 exploration. Although his body was short and thick-set, almost to the 

 verge of deformity, he was possessed of great muscular strength, and he 

 enjoyed admirable health. He spoke and wrote English admirably, and 

 his literary style, though florid and diffuse, was vigorous and picturesque. 

 His knowledge of the languages, or dialects, of the many savage races with 

 which he came in contact was considerable, and in coolness, pertinacity, 

 and nerve few explorers have ever equalled him. 



Ducie (Earl). 



A hybrid Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus X P. reevesi) from Gloucester- 

 shire. [1904. 2. 4, 1.] 

 Dumas (J. M.). 



94 birds from N. New Guinea. Purchased. [99. 11. 3, 1-41 ; 1900 

 4. 10, 1-53.] 



