The New York herald., 1921-12-12
BAGS FIVE CORILLAS
FOR MUSEUM HERE
Akeley's Expedition in Africa
Reports Capture of Family,
q Remarkable Feat.
MALE WEIGHS $50 POUNDS
MALE WEIGHS $50 POUNDS
All Previous Efforts to Keep
Them Alive in Captivity
Have Failed.

A family OF five gorillas. one of
which is a male weighing $50 pounds,
has been captured by the Akeley ex-
petition in South Africa, and is on it's
way for delivery to the American
Museum Of Natural History. There
is not gorilla in captivity anywhere
in the world to-day, the museum au-
thorities said, and only five specimens
ever have been brought alive TO this
country. of which John Daniel was
the last. John died in Madison Square
Garden, where he was circus celeb
rity.
Cablegrams received yesterday by
Prof Henry Fairfield Osborn, presi-
dent of the museum, from Carl F.
Akeley, noted naturalist, elephant
hunter and taxidermist, reported the
capture OF five at once by the Akeley
expedition, at present located in the
Lake Tanganyika region OF South
Africa. near the borderland between
German East Africa and the Belgian
Congo.
Raymond l.. Ditmars. curator at the
New York Geological Park. when in
formed OF what DR.. Akeley had done.
said It was one Of the most remarkable
achievements in the field to the credit
of any naturalist
The first gorilla to be brought to this
country. Mr.. Ditmars said, died on the
Pacific coast fifteen years ago. It lived
only two weeks after IL reached here.
The big gorilla is one OF the largest
ever taken, with reach of feet
inches. He may be dead by this time.
for the museum authorities believe II
would be practically impossible to trans
port him safely into permanent captiv-
ity. II was Mr.. Akeley's intention not
only to secure new specimens for the
museum but to make as many motion
pictures OF gorlllas and other beasts In
their natural environment as he could.
For this purpose he took into the
jungle what is probably the most highly
developed Photographic apparatus which
ever has been used for this work, and
II is expected he will bring back pict-
ures the like OF which never have been
seen before. He is using motion pict-
ture camera OF his own invention,
equipped with teiophoto lenses OF such
power that IL will be possible for him
to photograph animals from Il distance
hitherto impossible
The museum has a gorilla group. but
the specimens are small Moreover
since this group was set up. DR.. Akelcy
has made such additions to the art of
taxidormy that the new group will be
In every way superior II will placed In
Roosevelt African Hall. soon TO be
T.
hero In February. Prof. Osborn thinks
that some of the younger specimens may
be brought here alive. Mr.. Akelcy was
Instructed to do this. IL possible.
There has also just been received at
the museum letter from Roy Chapman
Andrews. leader OF the museums third
Aaiatic geological expedition. sent out in
cooperation with the American Asatic
Association and the Asia 1aodsine.
hly. Andrews writes: 81 am on the
train en- route TO Pcltln after the trip
into Shensi. II was the hardest trip
I've ever had fearful work in the
mountains OF China. There was q good
bit OF fighting going on around us, and
we ran squarely into n group of zoo
brigands. My medical kit come I'm very,
nicely. ] patched up wounded men for
an entire day. and they we're very CRATE
ful. They treated us with the greatest
courtesy and even gave us guard OF
honor until we were out OF the danger
zone. IL was an interesting little cx-
pericnce, and proves my doctrine that
understanding Of the people avoids
adventure
Mr. Andrews added that he had been
successful In getting specimens of the
talSin, a curious animal of COW like ap-
pearance. distantly related to the cham
oils and our own Rocky Mountain goat
II has been called the Chinese buffalo
It bears little outward resemblance
however to the American bison. but
seems to combine the characteristics OF
the antelope. goat yak and moose. AL
though heavy animal. II moves as
lightly over the mountain crags as the
big horn Of the Rockies. Mr.. Andrews
Is also bringing back some small NAM
mails unknown to science.