598 
MAMMALIA. 
“When I Lave surprised a couple of Gorillas/’ says M. du 
Chaillu, “ the male has usually been seated on a rock or against a 
tree in the darkest corner of the jungle. The female sat eating 
beside him, and, what was very singular, it was nearly always she 
who gave alarm by taking to flight, uttering at the same time 
piercing cries. But the male remained seated for a moment, and 
knitting together his savage countenance, slowly stood upright. 
Throwing a malicious glance at the invaders of his retreat, he 
then commenced to heat his breast, to elevate his great head, and 
to utter his formidable roars. The hideous aspect of the animal 
at this moment it is impossible to describe. Looking at him, I 
forgave my brave native hunters for being full of superstitious 
fears, and I ceased to he astonished at the strange and marvellous 
stories current among them with regard to the Gorillas.” 
It has been erroneously affirmed that the Gorilla makes use of a 
stick or club as an offensive weapon. It only uses in its assaults 
its arms, feet, and teeth ; and these are more than enough. 
With a single blow of its enormous foot, armed as it is with 
short, curved nails, it disembowels a Man or fractures his skull. 
Nothing can he more dangerous than a had aim when attacking 
this ferocious animal ; therefore it is that experienced hunters 
always reserve their shot until the last moment. Moreover, the 
report of firearms irritates this terrible beast. If the wound 
is not fatal, the Gorilla precipitates itself with incredible violence 
on its aggressor, crushing at the same moment both weapon and 
hunter (Fig. 266). 
When the Gorilla is attacked, it utters a short, jerking, and 
acute bark, like that of an angry Dog ; to this succeeds a low 
growling, which might he mistaken for distant thunder. The 
echoing of these roars is so deep that they rather appear to come 
from the spacious cavities of the chest and abdomen than from 
the throat. This growling is so strange, so threatening, that 
the bravest become awed. The cry of the female and of the 
young Gorilla is shrill and piercing. 
This terrible Monkey dies as easily as Man ; a hall well 
directed produces instant death. 
The female does not attack the hunter ; she flies with her 
progeny, which clings around her neck, with its legs encircling 
her body. The affection of these creatures for their young is so 
