THE FEMALE GORILLA AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

Bruce Herald, Volume XII, Issue XII, 14 November 1879, Page 4

THE FEMALE GORILLA AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

A gorilla which arrived at Liverpool a few days since, has been now brought to the Crystal Palace, which it reached on Tuesday, and was on Wednesday exhibited to visitors. This specimen, the third gorilla which has been seen alive in this country, will be exhibited in the tropical department of the Crystal Palace. It is a female of about 18 months old, and is attended by a male chimpanzee of the age of 3 years. It was landed in Liverpool last week, and was sold to Mr Gracia, of Manchester, for L2OOO. The gorilla has been in company with the chimpanzee nearly from the time of its capture, and Mr Cross, in Liverpool, to whom the animals first came, thought to add to their comfort by introducing a small monkey aa an additional companion. On its being put into the cage, however, the chimpanzee displayed its jealousy by seizing the monkey's hand in its teeth and biting off three of its fingers. Since this event it has been judged wisest to allow the two apes to enjoy each other's company, On Wednesday the Rev, J. G. Wood, who will give lectures to visitors on the gorilla occasionally in the Palace, asked Mr A-. R. Wallace the well-known naturalist, to make a few remarks ■ to the company present, and Mr Wallace said it : was a very interesting thing, indeed, to natuialists to see a living specimen of the gorilla, which was, as those present were aware, the largest of the anthropoid apes. Looking at the gorilla, as he did at the moment, so that he conld not see its nose, the head was wonderfully like that of a negro child. The nose, however, was dilated and flat, and thoroughly unlike a human nose. It would be an exceedingly interesting thing to naturalists if these creatures could be kept alive to watch their growth and the development *of their habits. Several anthropoid apes had been brought to this country, but none had survived a second winter. They had generally died of lung disease, commencing with coughs. The best chance of keeping them, he thought, was to take care that they had plenty of fresh air. The young gorilla would, if standing erect, be about 3 feet in height, and the body, especially about the chest and shoulders, is very stout. The ears are exactly like human ears, and the head is well shaped and round at tho top, the eyes are almost black, and the akin of the face is black, contrasting with the tawny yellow of the skin of tue chimpanzee. The body is covered with black hair, and the fingers— unlike those of the chimpanzee, — are joined together to near the extremity of what is called the first joint of the tiuger. The creature's eyes have a curious pensive expression, and it looks about a good deal, as if observant, though neither it nor its companion could be said to be very lively. The first gorilla publicly exhibited alive in England — or it was believed that had ever been brought alive to Europe — was Pongo, shown some time since at the Aquarium, and which afterwards died in Berlin ; but it appears that the late Mrs Wombwell exhibited for some months what was called a black chimpanzee, which was after death dissected by Mr Waterton, who discovered on examining the skeleton that it was a young gorilla. Taking this specimen into account, the animal just arrived is the third living gorilla that has been seen in England.