Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-04-22
THE NEW MAN-MONKEY.

THE NEW MAN-M0NKEY.
At the London Royal Institution, re-
Gently, Professor Owen delivered lee
ture to a crowded audience, on the Co
rilla, the recently discovered animal OF
Central Africa, which bears the nearest I
resemblance to man of any one of the
monkey tribe that has hitherto been dis
covered, not excepting the chimpanzee.
The first traces Of this creature we're
made known in England in 4847, and
from the bones and sketches of it which
Professor Owen received from the mis-
sionaries, he inferred that the Gorilla was
one of the most highly developed species
of the monkey group. In August last a
specimen Of the Gorilla, preserved in
spirits, was received at the British Muse
um, and a well executed drawing Of it,
/ by Mr.. Wolf, was exhibited. Professor
Owen first pointed ont the anatomical
characteristics of the Gorilla, (which dis
tinguish it from other species Of monkeys,
and he afterwards mentioned such partic-
ulars of its habits as he has collected
from those who have visited that part of
Africa where il is found.
The points in which it approaches near
er to man than any other quadrumanous,
are the shorter arm-particularly the
|shortness of'the humerus compared with
the forearm longer development of
the great toe, projecting nose bone, and
the arrangement of the bones Of the feet
to enable the creature to stand more erect.
The drawing of the Gorilla, from the
specimen in the British Museum, though
/ only two-thirds wn,represented a most
formidable animal, and compared with
, the skeleton of the full-grown specimen,
) the skeleton of man seemed very slim
: and delicate. Not only are the bones
{ and muscles calculated to give great
: strength, but the large capacity Of the
chest indicated the powerful energy with
{ which they were stimulated.
The part Of Africa where the Gorilla
is found lies from the equator to twenty
Z degrees south, on the western portion, il
a billy country, abounding in palm trees
: and luxuriant vegetation. Its food con
ssts Of fruit and vegetables, and its hab
= itation is the woods, where il construed
: nests Of the entertained boughs, perchet
Il at hoighis varying from IL feet TO So
O II avoids the presence Of the negroes ant
, is but seldom seen, but II is known t
D. them as the stupid old man. The wan
: of intelligence that has induced the ne
y groes to give it that name is showi
J. BY its carrying away fruits and snga
h canes singly, instead Of tying them to
IT gether and carrying several of at fh
At same time. II is in thus returning {
Df take iis provender into the woods b
d peacemeal that the negroes take the op
10 portunity of waiting for and shooting /
ID The Gorilla is formidable enemy to ef
counter, and in case the gun misses il
a marx, or only mains the animal. th
d negro is quickly overtaken and killed. G
a dreadiully mangIed BY the canine teeth {
i the creature. Sometimes, when a negro
,e 3assing unawares under q tree 10 whIc
as Gorilla is seated, II will reach down i
n. arm and snatch the man up by the thros
re and hold him tll be il slraDgled. IN
n elephant Is an object of iis ailack.as the
be both live on the same food, and. holdin
IL on 10 a high branch with IT, hind feet,
pg 4ill ssoop down and strike The eleptai
- ziih a club. The Gorilla exhibits
e. strong aiiacisn,ent 70 is young, as ~ i
an stance Of which Il was mentioned that
m female aud her Two Young ones iasif
- been seen II a tree. she snasched up os
". asd ran with Il into the soo5s, aod ih'
he returned . leseh ihs cher Her rsife
sh had in tee meantime been cut %, a