50 



GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



through the same space, and that in a line, the 

 tracks of either foot are the same distance apart, but 

 the distance from the track of the right foot to that 

 of the left is about three times as great as the dis- 

 tance from the track of the left foot to that of the 

 right ; or the reverse may be the case. The distance 

 from the track of either foot to the succeeding track 

 of the other, is never the same between the right 

 and left tracks, except where the animal is walking 

 at great leisure. 



There is, perhaps, no animal more awkward than 

 the chimpanzee, when he attempts to run. He 

 sometimes swings his body with such force between 

 his arms as to lose his balance, and falls backward 

 on the ground. I have often seen him do this, and 

 when he would right himself again, would be '^half 

 his length farther backward than forward of his 

 starting-point. 



The chimpanzee is doubtless a better climber 

 than the gorilla. He finds much of his food in 

 trees, but is not arboreal in habit in the proper sense 

 of that term. To be arboreal, the animal must sleep 

 in trees or on a perch, but the chimpanzee cannot 

 do so. He sleeps the same as a human being does. 

 He lies down on the back or side, and, as a rule, 

 uses his arms for a pillow. I do not believe it pos- 

 sible for him to sleep on a perch. He may some- 

 times doze in that way, but the grasp of his foot is 

 only brought into use when he is conscious of it. I 

 have often known Moses to climb down from the 

 trees and lie upon the ground to take a nap. I 



