Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-11
alexandria @az&tt&
THuRSDAY EVENING, APRIL II, 1878
visitors From Africa.

Enur adolescent chinpapzacs and an ouranR
outang. s.ey landed at this port by the steam
ship Hermann, ou Monday, attracted crowds OF
naturalists aud curiosity seekers to the New
York AQUARIUM yesterday. The ourane outang
was captured near the Congo River, 10 Africa
about thirtceu mouths ago, and has ever since
been travelling, as it were, by easy stages to this
country, after first paying a passing visit to the
south of Eagland. Leo, as be is called, 10 SAID
to be the first of his kind ever 10 the United
States. 1t is true that animals have been eX
hibited here under the name OF ouraug outange,
but these, it is asserted, we're on!y dog laced
baboons. Although having facial expression
which for gravity might not Ill 6t ut the age OF
three score and ten, Leo is still child, being
oply little over six years old.
He stands about tour feet high aud can sus
mend himself by bis great toe from the TOP OF
his cage as gracefully as hrst class trapezlSt,;
After taking swing for the entertainment. OF
his visitors Leo de:cands, and WITH precision
ahsontelv ludicrous wraps himself 10 bis 0laoH
at from the warm folds of which 20 entresty
hnt that f bis keeper can ipduce him to emerge.
# anv unusual noise is made with the object OF
bringing him out he merely raises the 0!aoket
from his head sufficiently to peer out and then
drop it as though he would say mo you don t.,
OF the four ctimpaI Zses-whch animal
more closely resembles the humao species than
apy other braoch Of the anthropold are family
Two are males and two females. Ned, the
largest, is about ten years old and Is Deary
tonr feet 10 height. Hell said to be the finest
specimen Of his kind ever brought to this
country or Europe, far SURPRISING Pougo. the
famous cblupatzae that died 10 London a
short time since. The ages OF the others range
between three aud FIVE years. The arrival Of
his group at the Aquarium caused DO ll!tle
amount of distress 10 Molly, the feminine
chmpa,z'e that lest Der brother, who pore
the name of Mp few weeks ago. Molly
is kuowo TO possess decidedly jealous dlspo'
sitlon, aud doubtless believing that tue new
corners would divide the attentions of the keep
or, which she has been monopolizlog, she
screamed. scolded, tore her hair. and 10 hei
rage ATTEMPTED to break into the strangers
cage for the purpose Of attacking them With
all the fury of an sxssperated vixen. The
diet of the chimpsDzees is OF the most dainty
kind, and includes chocolate. honey, boiled
eYps, port vine, milk, rice and potatoes, With
nttle boiled chicken once week. They
will take glass ~ the handle and dr'ok out
Of i, like q humao being. and their keeper
hopes 10 little time to have them perfected
10 the use OF kote and fork.
When the first couple of chimpar ices ar
rived at this port about sx weeks sloce, oWloP
to their striking resemblance to the human
family the question was raised as to whether
they should be landed az emigrants or animals.
The Custom House authorities adopted the
latter view, and as conse queDce the propr!e'
tor of the Aquarium paid, uuder protest, the
duty 90 importing them. He has sluce refer
red rhe matter to Washington, aud the Treas
ury Department has not yet DECIDED whethe,
the chlmpa zees are to be c|assed as Rnsbmeu,
Hotreptots or animals N T. Herald.