The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-01 00:00:00

A GORILLA.

The following letter has been ee.it to The Times, giving an
account of a gorilla which had arrived in Liverpool :
Sir,—A veritable young living gorilla was yesterday
brought into Liverpool by the German African
Society's Expedition, which arrived by the steamship
Loanda, from the West Coast. The animal is a young
male, in the moss perfect health and condition, and
measures nearly three feet in height. Its beetling
brows flattened podgy nose, black muzzle, small ears,
and thick fingers, clett only to the second joint, distin-
guish it unmistakably from the chimpanzee.
Only one other specimen has been brought alive to
England. In the winter of 1855-6 a young female gorilla,
of much smaller size, was exhibited by the late Mrs.
Wombwell in Liverpool and other places. It died in
March, 1856, and was sent to Mr. Waterton, of Walton-
hall, who preserved the skin for his own collection and
sent the skeleton to the Leeds Museum. This specimen
I saw living in Liverpool and dead at Walton-hall. All
subsequent attempts to import the gorilla alive have
failed; and, unfortunately, the British public will have
no opportunity of profiting by the present success, as
the members of the Expedition with commendable
patriotism are taking the animal, on Saturday, rid
to Berlin.
Could it have graced our own Zoological Gardens it
would have been the lion of the day; for, in addition
to the great scientific interest of the species, the
abounding life, energy, and joyous spirits of this
example would have made it a universal favourite.
Courteously received at Eberle's Alexandra Hotel by
the members of the Exhibition, I found the creature
romping and rolling in full liberty about the private
drawing-room, now looking out of the window with all
becoming gravity and sedateness, as though interested,
but not disconcerted, by the busy multitude and novelty
without, and then bounding rapidly along on knuckles
and feet to examine and poke fun at some new corner;
playfully mumbling at his calves, pulling at his
beard (a special delight), clinging to his arms, examining
his hat (not at all to its improvement), curiously in-
quisitive as to his umbrella, and so on with visitor after.
visitor. If he becomes over excited by the fun, a gentle
box on the ear would bring him to order like a child,
like a child only to be on the romp again immediately.
He points with the index finger, claps withhis hands, puts
out his tongue, feeds on a mixed diet, decidedly prefers
roast meats to boiled, eats strawberries, as I saw, with
delicate appreciativeness, is exquisitely clean and man
The palms of his hands and feet beautifully
plump, soft, and black as jet. He has been eight
months and half in the possession of the Expedition,
has grown some six inches in that time, and is sup-
posed to be between two and three years of age.—l am,
Sir, your obedient servant,
THOMAS J. MOORE, Curator.
Free Public Museum, Liverpool, Jane fi2.
[The interesting stranger took its departure on
Saturday for Berlin along with its owners.]

SEEING THE FLOWERS.
(Royal Botanicad Garden, June 21, 1876)

Angelina. We shall be kept waiting here for hours.
Edwin. Well, then, we can walk to the gate. We
ha 4 better get out. There are about a mile of carriages
before ours. _ _

Angelina. How about my train?
Edwin. Oh, it's quite fine. Everybody's doing the
same. You can hold it up.
Angelina. We can never cross in front of the horses'
heads

"A4lnglgellkiinai.Vs Hereail wri:hat:fahtla:ll;^-1;::::::::::
crowd!

Edwin. Yes. You know the last was put off (fin
account of the weather: so to•day they've a double
allowance of visitors.
Angelina. I see, Which band shall we go to?—
the Blues or the let Lifes ? Can you get me a chair?
Edwin. Impossible! Look! Every seat entails a
pitched battle.
Angelina. Well, we can sit here—on the grass. The
toilettes remind me of the Bois—three months ago
Well, now we have seen everything, we had better go
home. The Princess went away hours ago.
Edwin. But how about the flowers?
Angelina. Oh, it's much too hot to look at them /
—Punch. (exeunt.)