1852.] 83 
The Ngena is represented as the most terrible monster of his native forests. 
His appearance is hideous even when dead. Among the natives he is the subject 
of many allegories, in which he acts some distinguished part, perhaps that of a 
king or a conqueror—perhaps a defender or a destroyer. In the forests he seems 
to be the implacable enemy of man. 
Though he never lies in wait, yet when he hears, sees or scents a man, he im- 
mediately utters his charactevistic cry, prepares for an attack, and always acts on 
the offensive. Thecry that he utters resembles a grunt more than a growl, and 
is similar to the cry of the Chimpanzee when irritated, but vastly louder. It is 
said to be audible at a great distance. His preparation consists in attending the 
females and young ones, by which he is usually accompanied, toa little distance. 
He, however, soon returns with his crest erect and projecting forward, his nos- 
trils dilated and his under lip thrown down, at the same time uttering his 
characteristic yell, designing, it would seem, to terrify his antagonist ; instantly, 
unless he is disabled by a well directed shot, he makes an onset, and striking his 
antagonist with the palm of his hands, or seizing him witha grasp from which 
there is no escape, he dashes him upon the ground and lacerates him with 
his tusks. 
He is said to seize a musket and instantly crush the barrel between his teeth. 
Some hunters are said to have permitted him to take hold of the musket and 
carry it to his mouth, firing as it passes between his teeth. This will, however, 
appear to lack probability, though it is stoutly maintained by the natives. 
He is said to be always at war with the leopard, which he destroys if he suc- 
ceeds in seizing him. The leopard, however, by his superior agility, often wears 
him out. He is said to spring upon the back of the Ngena and lacerate his neck 
with his teeth, escaping before he can be seized. This animal’s savage nature 
is very well shown by the implacable disposition of a young one that was brought 
here. It was taken very young and kept four months, and many means were 
used to tame it, but it was incorrigible, so that it bit me an hour before it died. 
The various stories of his building houses in imitation of the natives—his 
covering himself with bushes, which he hurls upon his antagonist in his attacks ; 
vanquishing the elephant with clubs, or even using clubs at any time, and nu- 
merous other accounts given to credulous whites, are considered ridiculous by 
the best informed natives. Yet every Nipongue man has a fund of such stories 
which he vends to children and every one else who will listen to them with 
credulity. 
From my most careful inquiries I can find no one who believes that these 
creatures are of the same original-stock as black men, as some have reported. 
By most it is considered an insult to suppose it. 
His flesh is considered delicate eating by the tribes where he is taken, though 
the Nipongues consider it quite ¢ vulgar fare.’ The slaves here, however, carried 
away the flesh as soon as it was taken from the bones of my specimen.” 
Dr. Ruschenberger read a portion of his “ Notice of the Academy of 
Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,” the remainder of which was deferred 
to the next meeting. 
February 10th. 
Vice-President WrtTHERILL in the Chair. 
Dr. Ruschenberger concluded the reading of his “Notice of the 
Academy.” 
Whereupon the following Resolutions, offered by William 8S. Vaux, 
Hsq., were unanimously adopted : 
Resolved, That the Members of the Academy have listened with the 
deepest interest and satisfaction to the “‘ Notice” just read. 
