HABITS OF THE GORILLA 



229 



tinct. The stories told about the king gorilla placing 

 his family in a tree while he sits on watch at the base, 

 is another case of supposition. 



The food of the gorilla is not confined to plants and 

 fruits. They are fond of meat, and eat it either raw 

 or cooked. They secure a small supply by catching 



A YOUNG GORILLA ASLEEP 



rodents of various kinds, lizards and toads ; they are 

 also known to rob the nests of birds of the eggs, and 

 of the young. A native once pointed out to me the 

 quills and bones of a porcupine which he said had 

 been left by a gorilla who had eaten the carcass, and 

 he said that it was not at all rare for them to do so. 

 The fruits and plants they live upon chiefly are 

 acidulous in taste, and some of them are bitter. They 



