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JOTJKNAL OF MAMMALOGY 
ON THE GORILLA AND THE CHIMPANZEE 
By C. R. Aschemeiee 
There have been several articles of late, in magazines and news- 
papers, regarding the gorilla and the chimpanzee, with particular 
reference to the bravery in an advance to the attack, as well as to the 
relative abihty to defend themselves, shown by these great apes. The 
authors have, in some cases, behttled the gallant courage of the gorilla 
and pictured the chimpanzee as a brave beast. I wish to give an 
account of several instances when the gorilla proved himself the gallant; 
and to express my opinion that the chimpanzee is a coward, as compared 
with the larger ape. These are based on over two years’ experience in 
hunting these animals in the Fernan Vaz District of the French Congo, 
which is considered the best region for both the gorilla and the chim- 
panzee. 
Contrary to the opinions of many, the gorilla is, in my experience, 
just as intelhgent as the chimpanzee. I found in every case that, in 
time of danger, the gorilla used his head better than did the chim- 
panzee. The latter ape seemed frequently to get ‘‘rattled,” whereas 
the gorilla, although not necessarily slow, was, at critical times, much 
more dehberate in his actions. A chimpanzee always makes off at the 
first sign of danger, but one never knows when the gorilla may attack. 
Their cries, in times of great danger, are characteristic of the natures 
of the two beasts. When I ran into a chimpanzee there was a wild 
scramble, a piercing scream, and the animal disappeared into the bush. 
With the gorilla it was quite different. There was usually a single 
yell, one that seemed fairly to make the earth tremble, and this was 
sometimes accompanied by a beating or thumping of the chest. The 
gorilla, in his deliberate retreat, usually keeps a tree between himself 
and the hunter. 
I was a witness to several instances when gorillas refused to desert 
their fallen comrades. One morning on the Rembo Elandi, not far 
from our camp, we encountered a family party of five or more gorillas. 
Some of them, apparently, had not yet risen from their beds. One old 
male was on the ground, two were in the trees eating, and the rest 
were in the nest. One of my native guides advanced as far as was 
safe, actually to almost under the tree in which the two were feeding, 
and had the opportunity for close observation of what followed. I 
shot at one of these gorillas, an animal about two-thirds grown, and saw 
it tumble from the tree. I ran forward, to find the native standing in 
