APES 
April 11, 1848, Professor Owen read a supplementary note 
on the great chimpanzee, and led him to adopt the name 
proposed by its discoverer, of Troglodytes Gorilla, adopting 
the term used by Hanno in describing the wild men 
which he discovered on the coast of Africa during his 
famous voyage. 
On January 11, 1859, Professor Owen read a very ex- 
haustive paper upon the external characteristics and 
affinities of the gorilla, specimens, more or less perfect, 
having been received in spirits. In 1861 we had the 
adventures and explorations by Paul B. du Chaillu, who 
brought to England skins and skulls of adult gorillas, and 
gave full descriptions of the habits of these and other 
members of the family; and, although much doubt was 
at the time expressed of the truth of Du Chaillu’s state- 
ments, many of them have since that time been fully 
verified. 
There is always considerable difficulty in obtaining 
authentic information with reference to the history of 
almost all important animals. The owners have, naturally, 
a wish to sell them at the highest price, and are not 
always very particular in their statements as to the cost 
and trouble they have had in obtaining them ; and it is 
sometimes useless and vexatious to make inquiries that 
are answered by such unlikely stories, that, if published, 
would be scouted as absurd fables. Such being the 
ordinary condition under which animals of this kind are 
offered for sale, it is a waste of time to attempt, in most 
cases, to ascertain the truth. 
I have taken the liberty of reproducing the portrait, 
the original block having been destroyed by fire. 
145 
L 
