New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-12-10
The Gorilla

A most remarkable addition, says a London paper,
is about to be made to the objects Of interest at the
Crystal Palace Sydenham consisting of perfect and
complete preserved specimen of Gorilla. We may
az well reply al once to the question, of % What is
GorlaE by stating that it is an animal that resen-
Des more nearly than any known creature the mem.
bers Of the human family and there is this eXtraor
binary tact relative to It, that 1t has been accurately
described upon several occasions before it was seen
or was even known to exist with perfect certainty.
Some ten years since, a traveller in the interior OF
Western Africa saw native tribe engaged in wor-
shipping what appeared to be human skull set
upon pole. The curiosity Of the traveller was eX-
cited, and with considerable trouble be obtained pos
session o! the idol and forwarded it to Professor
Owen. for his opinion respecting the nature of the
animal OF which it had once formed part. Professor
Owen decided that the creature did not belong to any
OF the species Of ChmpauZee or indeed to any Of the
monkey tribe that it was altogether unrepresented
by any specimen Of natural history known to the sci
entiG world and the learned Professor embodied his
views on the subject n a very interesting paper,
which he read before the Geological Society.
At length, after extraordinary eXertOns an animal
was captured, and, packed IN Cask OF spirits of
wine duly arrived in this country few weeks since
and is found to correspond in the most minute respect
with the description given of it by Professor Owen
The Gorilla is a native Of Western Africa, and is
known to exist it is said in very large numbers in
the GabOOn districts. where they are among the most
formidable Of the wild animals of the forest The
present specimen, which has been most carefully
skinned and preserved by Mir Bartlett, the taXider
mist to the Crystal Palace, under the direction of
Professor Owen, is rather more than five feet in
hight. 1t is male known to be young by the state
Of its teeth aud the condition Of the sutnes Of the
skull The fOreegs or arms are Of great length and
of prGQigiOns strength, greatly surprising that of
any human arm the hind legs are comparatively
short and are well adapted for tree climbing. In
features, the animal is very much like negro and
the orbits over the eyes are considerably projected.
The teeth are formed almost precisely as in man and
unlike the monkey, chimpanzee, or ourangOutang,
they are of great strength and in the skull which
first sent over to this country, the CANNES were
nearly as large and as strong as those OF lion. The
hair the upper part of the head of the Gorilla is
of a reddish brown upon the cheeks the smooth
hair is Of greyish hue the back is covered with
dun Hr nUuseCOOred hair the hair upon the arm,
from the hand to the elbow, is black and it grows
upwards from the hand towards the elbow. The chest
is nearly bare
There were thirteen wounds in the body of the ami.
NAL and two bullets were extracted from it. one from
wound which had been healed over. The Gorilla
had to all appearance died Of starvation. His body
was in a most emaciaed condition, and his tongue
was covered with thin white coating, as though
caused BY excessive fever. 1t is thought that the
wound inflicted upon him prevented his being able to
procure the necessary supplies OF food These animals
are gTegariOns and it is stated by the natives that
they frequently appear in considerable force, sack the
villages, carry away young children and devOur them
and further they have very ugly custom OF attack
ing men, and Wrenching of the heads Of those whom
they attack If of these creatures is fired at or
attacked the whole tribe come down to the rescue,
and escape from the combined assault is impossible.
How far these statements may be correct there is at
present no means Of knowing but it is very certain
from tile formation of the teeth and the great strength
Of the animal that the gorilla is not vegetarian in
his habits, and that he would have scrupe in de-
vDurng any flesh that might come in his way Mr..
Bartlett has represented the animal as seated upon the
trunk of a tree. 1t will remain few daysat the pal
ace by permission OF the trustees Of the Brsish mu
scum whose property it is, and where it is destined
ultimately to be placed. Professor Owen will deliver
to the geological Society lecture upon this most in
teresting sngcimen.