GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



with both apes or not, and native reports differ 

 on this point, but it is probable that they are the 

 same. 



From a social point of view, the chimpanzee 

 appears to be of a little higher caste than other 

 animals. In his marital ideas he is polygamous, 

 but is, in a certain degree, loyal to his family. The 

 paternal instinct is a trifle more refined in him than 

 in most other animals. He seems to appreciate the 

 relationship of parent and child more, and retain it 

 longer than others do. Most male animals discard 

 their young, and become estranged to them at a very 

 early age ; but the chimpanzee keeps his children 

 with him until they are old enough to go away and 

 rear a family of their own. 



The family of the chimpanzee frequently consists 

 of three or four wives and ten or twelve children, 

 with one adult male ; but there are cases known in 

 which two or three elderly males have been seen in 

 the same family, but they appear to have their own 

 wives and children. In such an event, however, 

 there seems to be one who is supreme. This fact 

 suggests the idea that among them a form of patri- 

 archal government prevails. The wives and children 

 do not appear to question the authority of the 

 patriarch, or to rebel against it. The male parent 

 often plays with his children, and appears to be fond 

 of them. 



There is one universal error that I desire here to 

 correct. It is the common idea that animals are so 

 strongly possessed of the parental instinct that they 



