The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-03-24
THE NEW MAN MONKEY.


| THE NEW MAN MONKEY.
AT the London ROYAL Institution, Pro
lessor Owen recently delivered II lecture to
Il crowded audience, on the Gorilla, tie re-
Gently discovered animal Of Central Ameri
ca, which bears the nearest resemblance to
man OF any one of the monkey tribe that
has hitherto been discovered, not excepting
the Chmpanzcc. The first traces of this
creature were made known in 1917, and!
from the bones and sketches of it which
Which Professor Owen received from miss
ionarics, he inferred that the Gorilla was
one Of the most highly developed species
OF the money group. In August last, u
specimen OF the Gorilla. preserved in spirit
was received at the British Museum, and a
We'll executed drawing of it Ly Mr.. Wolfe,
was exhibited. Professor Owen first pont
Ell out the anatomical characteristics of the
Gorilla, which distinguish it from other
species OF monkeys, and he afterwards men
toned such particulars Of its habits as he
had collected from those who have visited
that part Of Africa where ii is found. The
points in Which it approaches nearer to
man than any other quadrumous animal,
are the shorter arm--partcularly the shor,
ness ol the humcrus compared with the
fore arm, longe: development of the great
toe, projecting nose bone, and the ar
r:'ngcmcnt of the bones of the feet to cna-
| blc the creature to stand more erect. The.
drawing Of the Gorilla from the specimen
l" tile British Museum, though only two,
thirds grown, represented most formidable
animal, and compaicd with the skeleton Of
the full grown specimen, the skeleton Of
man seemed Very slim and delicate. Not
only arc the bones and muscles calculated
to give strength, bu: the large capacity of
the chest indicated the powerful energy
with which they were simulated The
part of Africa where the Gorilla is found
lies from the equator to 20 degrees south,
on the western portion, in Il hiIly country.
aboundngin in palm trees and luxurant vcce
taton. Its food consists of fruit and vcne
tables, and its habtaton is the woods.
where 1t constructs nests Of the interwnel
boughs perched at heights varying from
l to 80 feet. 1t avoids the presence Of
negroes and is but seldom seen; they call
it the stupid old man. Til. want of in
tclligencc that has induced the negroes to
give 1t that name is shown by its carrying
away fruits and sugar canes singIy, instead
OF tying them together, and carrying off
several ut the same time. 1t is in thus re.
turning to take away its provenIer into the
woods by piecemeal that the negroes take the
opportunity Of waiting for and shooting it.
lhe Gorilla is formidable enemy to en-
counter, and in case the gun miss its mark,
or only MAIN the animal, the negro is
quickly overtaken and killed, or u,anrlcd
by the canine teeth OF the creature. Some
times when negro is passing unawarcs
tree, i'll Which IL Gorilla is seated. it will
reach down its arm and snatch the man ND
by the throat and hold him till he is
strangled. The elephant is an object of its
attack, as they both live on the same food.
and, holding on to a high branch with its
hind feet, it will stoop down and strike the
elephant with club. The Gorilla exhibits
u strong attachment to its young, AS an
Instance OF which it was mentioned that =
female and her two young ones having been
seen in tree, she snatched up one and ran
with 1t into the woods, and then returned
TO fetch the other. Her retreat had in ,bo
meantime been cut of, an when the nun
was leveled at her, as she held her youne
one to her breast, she waved her arm as if
to beseccl' mercy. But it was in vain; for
bullet was sent through her heart, and
TIC young one was wounded and captured.
Ihe Gorilla is sometimes seen wall;no
erect, with IFS arms behind its neck : its
usual mode of progression, however, is on
all tours. Professor Owen mentioned SOW
cral other points in the habits Of the ami.
mai, as well as i'll its osleologv, 10 show ifs
nearer approach to man than other animals
of the tribe, and he concluded by aludinp
to the fossil remains of quadromancs, to
show that the Gorilla, like man, had not
existed till the earth had attained its present
condition.
"sle always made home happy" Such
was the brief bnt impressive sentence
which friend wished us to add to an .ob;t
| uary notice of ono ,vI,o l,,J r. a,