The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-09 00:00:00

TILE GORILLA.

At the meeting of the British Association, in Section D
(Zoology and Botany), Professor OWEN read a paper sug-
gested by the discoveries of M. Du Chaillu, and an inspec-
tion of the specimens which that traveller had been the
first to bring to this country. These extraordinary animals
were (said the learned professor) found in the Gaboon coun-
try, equatorial Africa, and were purchased from M. Du
Chaillu by the trustees of the British Museum. The col-
lection was confined to the anthropoid apes. His first
knowledge of this collection was derived from a letter
written by M. Du Chaillu from the Gaboon river in
January, 1859, offering these gorilla skins and specimens
for sale to the British Museum. The letter was referred to
him, and he recommended the transmission of the collec-
tion to London for inspection, with which recommendation
M. Du Chaillu complied. The skins of the adult male and
female and young of the gorilla afforded ample evidence,
and for the first time, of the true nature of the species.
Professor Owen described in detail the osteo-
logical and hirsute characteristics of these specimens, and
passed onto notice some of their peculiarities and accidental
marks. The hair of the male was rubbed from its back, the
effect, probably, of a habit of sleeping at the foot of a tree,
and resting its back against the trunk. The skin exhibited
two opposite wounds, and two of the ribs were broken where
the charge of the gun had passed through. These marks
corresponded with the account of their mode of slaughter.
Professor Owen noticed another specimen, called the bald-
headed variety, which M. Du Chaillu described as being in
the habit of building itself a shelter with the branches of
trees, about 20 to 30 feet high. They tied these branches
together with wild vines, forming a shelter in the shape of
an ambrella, with a horizontal branch, on which the animal
rested. The male slept under one shelter and the female
under another, beneath a neighbouring tree. Was this con-
structive faculty exercised by more than one variety of the
chimpanzee ? A specimen of this umbrella-like house
would be highly desirable. The next kind noticed was that
called kooloo kamba by the natives, and it had fourteen
pairs of ribs. Zoologists were under great obligations to
M. Du Chaillu for his valuable contributions to our know-
ledge of these verities in the anthropoid apes of Africa.

The PRESIDENT (C. C. Babington) said he was sure the
section would return their best thanks to Professor Owen 1
for his very elaborate and valuable communication.
Discussion having been invited,
Mr. W. ELLIOTT asked if there was anything peculiar
in the country inhabited by the bald-headed gorilla which
would account for its baldness? For instance, was the
country annually subject to inundation? In that case the
baldness might result from climbing trees.
Professor OWEN replied that no peculiarities of those
densely-wooded tropical regions had yet been pointed out
to at all explain the origin or varieties of these specimens ;
and from the short periods during which Europeans could
tarry in one locality, he feared it would be long before those
minute observations on the differences of species and IScal
characteristics could be obtained that would give us a clue

to this. At present they had only absolute facts admitting
of no explanation.
Mr. ELLIOTT further observed, that there was a peculiar
kind of ape along the Coromandel coast of India, but
he doubted whether it could justly be called a new species.
Professor OWEN replied that it was very convenient to
consider these different species as varieties, and to speak of
the Troglodytes gorilla as distinguished from the Troglo-
dytes niger. He regarded them, however, as mere varieties,
just as our ordinary cattle differed in colour, a black cow
from the white. So with regard to the chimpanzees. M.
Du Chaillu estimated his varieties somewhat higher than
he (Professor Owen) did, and indicated them by specific
names. He saw in the characteristics which these speci-
mens exemplified only marks of an easily recognisable
variety. The value of these distinctions must depend upon
the discoveries of future travellers. M. Du Chaillu men-
tioned the localities, and if future travellers found the same
varieties and marks, that would make them more valuable
zoological facts. (Applause.)
Mr. J. M. MITCHELL, P.R.A., S.A., Edinburgh—May
I ask what was paid to M. Du Chaillu by the British
Museum ?
Professor OWEN—I am afraid that is a zoological statistic
that hardly belongs to our section. (Hear.) It rather be-
longs to the statistical section. (Laughter.)
Mr. MITCHELL—I do not think there should le any
secret. lam sure we should all be glal to hear that he was
fully rewarded. (Hear.)
Professor OWEN—In all his transactions M. Du Chaillu
acted in a most liberal and gentlemanly manner, and he ex-
hibited far more desire to see his rare specimens secured in
our national collection than to obtain mere personal profit.
Mr. P. SCLATER, M.A., said that one point of great in-
terest in M. Du Chaillu's narrative was that the gorillas
were always shot through the breast and body, and Pro-
fessor Owen had stated that the larger male gorilla bore such
marks. He had himself observed what he thought a bullet
hole in the back of the skull. Had Professor Owen noticed
this ?
Professor Owen replied that he had found no other mark
of a shot than that which he had mentioned in the broken
ribs. _ _

Mr. SCLATER asked further if there were no bullet marks
in any of the skulls ?
Professor OWEN answered that the specimens were sent to
be macerated as soon as received, and he had net examined
the entire series.
Dr. E. PERCEVAL WRIGHT, M.D., M.R.1.A., one of the
secretaries, read a short paper from Dr. Gray, of the British
Museum, further treating of the African ape, particularly
as to the height of the species.
Professor OWEN concurred with the paper, adding that
he had no evidence of any gorilla exceeding sft. 4in. in its
ordinary position. Of course they must add somewhat to
the height of the bones, particularly in the males, in allow-
ance for those enormous masses of muscle that covered
the sides of the cranium and worked the jaws. The breadth
of the chest was immense, being double that of the strongest
man. The collar bones were of enormous size, as well as

those supporting the arm bones and powerful hands. These
exaggerations appeared the greater in contrast with the
diminutive height of the animal, which depended upon the
comparative shortness of the lower limbs ; it was as if the
body and upper limbs of a giant of eight or nine feet were
placed upon the lower limbs of a stout dwarf.
The Rev. Dr. MUNRO remarked, that after applauding
the actors, a grateful audience sometimes called upon the
author. Ho hoped he wag not out of order in saying that
as M. Du Chaillu was now in the house, he hoped ho might
be called upon to receive their cordial thanks along with
Professor Owen. (Hear.) He was sure the appearance of
M. Du Cha llu upon the platform would be deeply interest-
ing to the audience. (Applause.)
M. Du CHALLU came forward, and mounted the platform
amidst the hearty plaudits of the crowded assembly. He
said, in fair English :—Ladies and Gentlemen,—Allow me
to thank you for the kind feelings you have shown towards
me. I can only say that since my arrival in England I
have received so much kindness that I love the country as
much as any Englishman can do. (Applause.)
The Rev. Mr. Illoorws asked if there was anything in
the habit of the gorilla that would account for that enor-
mous development of muscle and bony structure on the
head and chest? Did its mode of living give occasion for

such enormous strength?
Professor OIVE,T replied that the only European, or white
man, who had had the opportunity of observing their habits
was the gentleman who had just left the platform. (Hear.)
Before learning from him (M. Du Chaillu), and reading his
account, the only knowledge he (Professor Owen) had of
that singular, stupendous, and most repulsive animal, was
derived from very vague, second .hand reports, brought by
navigators who traded for palm oil to the Gaboon, and
came to Bristol and other ports, and these were reports
they had received from missionaries at the Gaboon, or from
the natives, or through the missionaries from the natives.
Therefore, the liuowledgo poseeissed of the lola* et the