The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-09
LONDON'S PET GORILLA.
The Baby from the Tropics Proves to BE {
Gloomy Little Fellow.

The Baby from the Tropics Proves to BE a
Gloomy Little Fellow.
The unpleasant idea that must arise
in the mind of visitor to the gorilla
which has been comfortably housed in
the Geological Society's gardens.
Regents Park, will probably be that
he ought to be spoken of as our young
relation. The missing link, it is true,
may yet be wanting, but it is humiliat-
ing to be forced. after watching the
newcomer, and the Chimpanzee Sally,
in the next cage. to the conclusion that
the hairy creatures behind the bars
and the nineteenth-century people in
front of them have much in common.
Our young gorilla is, of course, at
present, the curiosity par excellence at
the Zoo. This is his indisputable right,
because of his rarity.
The successful prolongatiOn of Chin
parzee Sally's life to the fourth year
gi"es hope that the gorilla may also he
kept in the land of the living to be
petted, admired. argued about and to
be called Ito its faee) great troglo-
dyte and an anthropomorphous ape.
Our young gorilla does not. so far, ill.,
press US as being of a happy or con-
tented disposition. Small wonder, in
deed, is there for his melancholy. He
yOyaged from the Gaboon in wretched
box with scarce room to move, and
arrived from Liverpool at the Zooiogi-
cal Gardens terribly knocked about,
and, of course suffering from cold
that it was feared would be the fore
runner Of that pulmonary disease
which so generally proves fatal to the
trOpic-born anthropoidS. The CHM
panzee, coming also from gorilla land,
had been very good practice for Mr..
Bartlett, who accordingly nursed the
gorilla with almost parental care, and
has had the satisfaction of seeing him
recover health and in some measure
become reconciled to his captivity. The
animal has all the characteristic marks
Of the true gorilla, and it is a great
advantage TO the natural history
student to have the opportunity of
making comparisons between him and
the chimpanzee. Which Of the two is
most human in appearance will
probably be 4 matter of opinion.
Sally is tame, and.even playful. She I'M
derstands what her keeper says to her,
and has been taught 10y him to count
strawS up to five. She is fond of being
noticed and will thrust out her paw,
with its long tiibcrt nails, to grasp the
hand of a stranger. The gorilla as
yet will make friends with none, but
he will occasionally be tempted ut the
sight OF bunch of grapes to come
forward and sulIlily pick up and eat
the fruit thrown in among the straw. BY
and by he may emerge from his sullen
fit and permit himself to be handled
like his distant relative next door.
After all, he is, being three years of
aye, but baby, and there is ample
time for the ameliorating influences of
kind treatment (not to mention the
courses of bananas, grapes, and an
occasional pineapple to which he is
meanwhile treated) to soothe his savage
and remarkably broad breast. Sally is
more human, at least in her diet, than
the gorilla, for she has no objection to
meat, and will tear to pieces and make
very short work with 4 pigeon. The
@orilla's appetite has naturally to be
good deal hundred in these early DAYS,
when the luscious fruits and berries OF
his native forests have not been quite
forgotten. The atmosphere of the
house in which these large apes reside.
which is on the Dorth side of the
gardens Opposite the kangaroosl. is
kept at about seventy degrees, and the
cages of both gorilla and chimpanzee
are roomy apartments, furnished rs
appropriately rs can be expected
under the circumstances. The gorilla
will mostly be found crouched upon
the straw ut the remote end of his
house, with his arms cIasped behind
his head, and the Stolid expression OF
his fiat face and dark eyes expressive
of settled gloom. There is in his
dcmeanor at such times a real touch
Of nature that makes him kin with ali
who have been unhappy. The young
naturalist who studies this young
specimen should supplement his visit
to the gardens by another to the
Natural History Museum, where a
stuffed adult specimen will be found.
.L0nl0n Duilu NesgS.