m GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



with me for a time in the forest was a sober, solemn, 

 stoical creature, and nothing could arouse in him 

 a spirit of mirth. The only pastime he indulged in 

 was turning somersaults. Almost every day, at 

 intervals of an hour or so, he would stand up for a 

 moment, then put his head upon the ground, turn 

 over like a boy, rise to his feet again, and look at me 

 as if expecting my applause. He would frequently 

 repeat this act a dozen times or more, but never 

 smiled or evinced any sign of pleasure. He was 

 selfish, cruel, vindictive, and retiring. 



One peculiar habit of the gorilla, both wild and in 

 captivity, is that of relaxing the lower lip when in 

 repose. They drop the lid until a small red line 

 appears across the mouth from side to side. It is 

 not done when in a sullen mood, but when perplexed 

 or in a deep study. 



Another constant habit is to protrude the end of 

 the tongue between the lips, until it is about even 

 with the outer edge of them. The end of the tongue 

 is somewhat more blunted than that of the human. 

 This habit is so frequent with the young gorilla that 

 it would appear to have some meaning, but I cannot 

 suggest what it is. 



The habit of the gorilla, in sleeping, is to lie upon 

 the back or side, with one or both arms placed under 

 the head as a pillow. He cannot sleep on a perch, 

 as we have already noted, but lies upon the ground 

 at night. I had once pointed out to me the place at 

 the base of a large tree where a school of them had 

 slept the night before. One imprint was quite dis- 



