164 GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



few things which are neither marvellous nor difficult. 

 In point of intellect she cannot be regarded as an 

 extraordinary specimen of her tribe. I do not mean 

 to detract from her reputation, but I have failed to 

 discover in her any high order of mental qualities. 



The reason why Johanna may be regarded as the 

 most valuable specimen for study is the fact that she 

 is the only female of her race that has ever reached 

 the state of puberty. She has done so, and this 

 fact enables us to determine certain things which 

 have never heretofore been known. This affords 

 the Zoologists an opportunity for the study of her 

 sexual development which may not again present 

 itself in many years to come. From this important 

 point of view she presents the student with many 

 new problems in that branch of science. 



I have elsewhere stated as my opinion that the 

 female chimpanzee reaches the age of puberty at 

 seven to nine years, and I have many reasons which 

 I will not here recount, that cause me to adhere to 

 that belief But the uncertainty of the age of this 

 ape does not destroy her value as a subject of scien- 

 tific study. 



The most sagacious specimen of the race that I 

 have been brought in contact with is Consul II., 

 who is now an inmate of the Bellvue Garden of 

 Manchester, England. He has not been educated 

 to perform mere tricks to gratify the visitor in the 

 way that animals are usually trained, but most of 

 the feats that he performs are prompted by his own 

 desire and for his own pleasure. 



