" 230 GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



often eat the fruit of the plantain, but prefer the 

 stalk, which they twist and break open and eat the 

 succulent heart of the plant. They do the same 

 with the batuna, which grows all through the forest. 

 The fruit of this plant is a red pod filled with seeds 

 imbedded in a soft pulp, it is slightly acidulate and 

 astringent. The wild mangrove which forms a 

 staple article of food for the chimpanzee is rarely, if 

 ever, touched by the gorilla, and the same is true of 

 many other plants and fruits. I once saw a gorilla 

 try to seize a dog, but whether it was for the purpose 

 of eating the flesh or not I cannot say. One, how- 

 ever, did catch and devour a small dog on board the 

 steamer Nubia, while on a voyage home from Africa. 

 Both belonged to Captain Button, who assured me 

 of the fact. They have no fixed hours for eating, 

 but usually do so in the early morning or late after- 

 noon. I have, in a few instances, seen them refuse 

 meat. They are perhaps less devoted to eating 

 flesh than the chimpanzee. 



In the act of drinking, the gorilla will take a cup, 

 place the rim in his mouth and drink like a human 

 being. He does this without being taught, while 

 the chimpanzee prefers to put both lips in the vessel. 

 I have never known one that would drink beer, 

 spirits, coflee or soup, but their drink is limited to 

 milk or water, while the chimpanzee drinks beer and 

 other things as well. 



