WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY^ 
size and strength of its teeth and jaws, all tend to prove 
that not the least doubt can be entertained respecting the 
danger of its attack. Added to all these physical advan- 
tages it is said to be gregarious, which is highly probable, 
as many of the large baboons of Africa are well known to 
be so, and the nearly-allied chimpanzee is also said to be 
met with in family groups. 
The assertion by travellers that this last animal and 
the gorilla are said to defend themselves with sticks and 
stones appears to require confirmation. We already know 
that the ourang of Borneo when pursued will ascend the 
highest trees, and tearing off the branches, or large fruit, 
shower them down in a terrific manner, exhibiting his rage 
and strength, doubtless for the purpose of intimidating his 
pursuers. He does not, however, appear to throw these 
direct at the object of his displeasure. The African 
species differs considerably from the ourang of Borneo and 
Sumatra, and probably may do something more than 
throw down the branches, etc. It has been ascertained 
from anatomical examination of dead specimens that these 
large apes appear, beyond doubt, to approach nearer than 
any other known mammal in their structure to man. It 
is desirable, on the other hand, to examine and to point out 
as clearly and as briefly as possible, in what they appear 
to differ mostly from man, in order that, by a few character- 
istics, we may be at once able to distinguish the one from 
the other, believing that we have in the gorilla the 
nearest approach, in formation, than any other represent- 
ative of the brute creation to the human species. It is 
evident from the contracted form of the hind limbs that 
the gorilla cannot stand upright; the bent or stooping 
posture, coupled with a heavy body, renders this animal 
unable to progress on the ground without the assistance 
of his front limbs. When walking on a plain surface the 
