The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-11
The Gorilla at Home.

monkey have been collected by a
writer in Chambers Journal, and are
most interesting. The aged male
gorilla, he says, in the full strength
Of his bodily development, is y
creature of terrible aspect. This an.
imal. when standing upright, is more
than six feet in height. The hind
part of the head is broader below
than above. and the projecting arches
above the eyes give peculiar prom
inence to this part of the skull. 1.-THE
dark eyes glow between the liks with
ferocious EXPRESSION The neck
is very powerful, almost like that of
bull, and the shoulders are remark
able for their breadth. The arms are
very long, and of enormous strength;
but the legs short and feeble in pro-
portion. The gorilla inhahits the
forests of West Africa, is sometimes
seen in large numbers on the sea.
coast, probably driven thither from
the interior by scarcity of food.
The gorilla, moreover, lives in so.
ciety consisting of male and female,
with their young of varying ages,
and the family group inhabits the
recesses of the forest. According to
one observer, they frequent the sleep
fNlnan than
four times conseculively, and usually
spend the night wherever they hap
pen to be when night comes on. The
male gUrilly chooses a suitable tree,
not very high. and by twisting and
bending the branches constructs a
kind of rude bed for his family. He
himself spends the night under the
tree, and thus protects the female and
their young from the nocturnal at
tacks of leOpards, which are always
ready to devOur all species of apes.
In the daytime the gorilla roam
through the forest in search of the
favorite leaves or fruits of which
form their food.
In walking gorilas place the backs
of their closed fingers on the ground,
or more rarely support themselves
on the fiat palm, while the bent soles
of the feet are also in contact with
the ground. Their gait is totering :;
the movement of the body, which is
never in an upright position as in
man, but bent forward, rolls to some
extent from one side to another.
They are skillful climbers, and when
ranging from tree to tree will go to
their very tops. The gorilla is re
garded as dreadful and very
dangerous animal by the negroes
who inhabit the same country !;
though Professor Hartman considers
that Du Chaillu's descriptions are
greatly exaggerated "for the benefit
of his readers" When the animal
is scared by man he generally takes
to flight screaming. and he only as
sumes the defensive when wounded or
driven in a corner. AT such times
his size, strength and dexerity com
bine to render him a formidable
enemy. "He sends forth a kind of
howl or furious yelp, stands up on
his hind legs like an enraged bear,
advances with clumsy gait in this
position and attacks his enemy. AT
the same time the hair on his head
and the nape of his neck stands
erect, his teeth are displayed, and
his eyes fash with savage fury. He
beats his massive breast with his
fists, or beats the air with them.
KoppenfelS says that if no further
provocation is given, and his oppon.
ent gradually retreats before the ami.
mails rage has reached its highest
point, he does not return to the at
tack. In other cases he parties the
blow directed against him with the
skill of practiced fighter; and as is
also done by the bear, he grasps his
opponent by the arm and crushed it,
or else throws the man down and
rends him with his terrible canine
teeth"