CLASS I. MAMMALIA: OEDEli 2. QLT ADlilTM AN A. 61 
Genus CHIMPANZEE, or Kimpanze^ Tror/lodijtes. — Of this genus there are two species— the 
common Chimpanzee and the Gorilla. 
The Chimpanzee, Troglodytes niger — sometimes called the Blade Orang — is a native of Guinea 
and the adjacent country, and has been long known in Europe. It is more like the human 
species than any other of the animal tribes. "Indeed, every one," siiys M. Boitard, "on observing 
a chimpanzee for the first time, is struck with his great 
resemblance to mankind, not only in his form, but in 
his actions, his gestures, and even some of his habits. 
The various names he has received in his native coun- 
try are proofs of this fact. The negroes call him Pongo, 
which is also the name of one of their great fetiches, a 
sort of forest genius ; in Angola, they call him cojas 
morros, which in their language signifies Ma.n of the 
forest ; in Congo, he is called the Eujoko^ which in the 
language of the country is the imperative of the verb 
to hold one's tongue — that is, ' JEujoko^ hold your 
tongue !' We conceive the origin of the name, in the 
I fact that the negroes of Congo imagine that the chim- 
panzee does not speak because he does not wish to do 
so, for he fears he should be made a slave, and forced 
to work. But all these words are merely epithets added 
to the word kimpanze, under which title he is knoAvn to 
all the natives on the coast of Guinea. The traveler 
Lecat calls the name khnpezey^ and G. Cuvier chim- 
panzer AVe may further remark, that the chimpanzee 
is the only one of the quadrumana that can walk erect 
with tolerable ease. 
Its nose is quite flat, and the nostrils open upward. 
The mouth is wide, and the hps thin. The ears are 
large, thin, and naked. Its height is about four and 
a half or five feet, when it stands up ; its body is cov- 
ered with black haii', except the face, which is nearly naked, and approaches the color of flesh. 
In youth, the shape of its skull greatly resembles that of man, but as it advances in age, the facial 
angle grows more acute, until at full maturity it resembles that of the baboon. Its character 
seems to undergo corresponding changes, for while young it is gentle and docile, yet becomes 
fierce and intractable when it has attained its full growth,— a remai'k that is equally applicable 
to the other apes. Most of the accounts which Ave have had of the chimpanzee, giving it a high 
character for docility and amiableness, have reference to young specimens. 
The liabits of this species in a state of nature have been imperfectly known, and hence the sub- 
ject has been embellished with a multitude of curious marvels. It appears that they live in small 
troops in the deep forests, and subsist mainly on vegetable food. They construct for themselves huts 
of branches and leaves, in the trees. These are, however, very slight and rude, and are not roofed 
over,— a circumstance which subjects them to the scoff's of the negroes. These cabins are only 
occupied during storms and in cases of sickness. At other times, these creatures sleep in the open 
air upon the branches of trees, sitting on their hind-legs, the body bent forward and the head 
resting on the breast. They are, in fact, like other members of the family, arboral animals, 
I though it may be said that the chimpanzee is more at home on the ground than any other 
species. They run on their lower extremities without difficulty, holding up the arms, or grasping 
the thighs with their hands, though this is not their usual mode of progression. They are said to 
unite m pairs. The female is very careful of her young, caressing it with the utmost tenderness. 
She carries it on her arms, in the manner of a nurse, when she has but a short distance to go ; 
, hut if she has a journey to perform, slie places the little one on her back, where it clings to its 
mother precisely in the manner of the little negroes. She is fondly attached to her young ones, 
SKELETON OF CHIMPANZEE. 
