SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
537 
the shifting of the wind inducing them to seek the most sheltered side of 
the rock. They appear to feed upon the sweet roots of the palmetto 
(Chammrops humilis ) and on beetles and other insects. Their numbers, how- 
ever, are rapidly decreasing, and unless means are soon taken to perpetuate 
their race upon the rock of Gibraltar, the quadrumana will speedily cease to 
be a European order. For some years past they have been w r atched, and 
the register shows that their numbers, which amounted to ten in 1856, are 
now reduced to four, which there is reason to believe are, moreover, all of 
the same sex. 
The Gorilla. — The wonderful adventures of M. du Chaillu in Equatorial 
Africa having been for a brief period the all-absorbing topic, have, like other 
nine-days’ winders, subsided into their proper place. The retirement of 
M. du Chaillu himself from the field of controversy has allowed judgment to 
go by default, and the reception given to his book by those traders upon the 
Gaboon who are best capable of judging of its merits and credibility, has gone 
far to aid the public in forming a correct estimate of the matter. A letter 
in the Times of June 3rd, forwarded by Sir E. Murchison, revives the sub- 
ject ; but, being only a general testimonial of previous good conduct, it has 
but little bearing upon the present issue, and the evidence brought forvrard 
is only of a negative kind. At the same moment, by a curious coinci- 
dence, Mr. E. B. Walker has arrived from the Gaboon, bringing with him 
some most remarkable remains of the giant ape, which we have had the 
pleasure of inspecting in the Liverpool Museum. These consist of a head, 
hand, and foot, preserved in spirits, which give a more correct idea of the 
formidable character of the animal than any specimens hitherto exhibited. 
The head measures fourteen inches from the muzzle to the nape, and the hand 
and foot must be seen to be appreciated. They are destined for the British 
Museum. The monster to which they belonged must have stood six feet 
high. Two skeletons have been generously presented by Mr. Walker to the 
Liverpool Museum. The thigh-bone of one of these measures sixteen inches 
and a quarter in length, or two and a half inches more than that of the indi- 
vidual so well known to the public as the “ King of the Gorillas.” A young 
specimen, preserved in spirits, was also brought over, which was taken 
alive, and it was fondly hoped would be the “lion” of the Zoological 
Gardens this season.* 
* Since the above was written, another gorilla (dead) has arrived at 
Liverpool from the Giboon, and will probably be added to the zoological 
treasures of the towm museum. 
M. de Chaillu has an illustration in his book which represents himself and 
a number of blacks contemplating a fallen gorilla. One day last month we 
could have presented him with a companion picture. 
On the door of the sale-room of a Liverpool broker, to whose care the 
corpse of the illustrious visitor was confided, there stood a box-coffin, about 
five feet long, containing its skeleton (the animal itself is 5 feet 11 inches high, 
the skeleton not being stretched at full length), and by its side lay the skin ; the 
hands exceeding in size, and resembling in appearance, a large pair of gloves 
with external fur, and bare skin on the palm, &c. All round stood a number 
of curious and wondering “ Liverpool gentlemen,” brokers, and merchants, 
with open eyes and closed nostrils ; whilst Mr. Moore, the curator of the 
