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of organic forms is not an obvious unbroken chain linking the highest to the lowest. Animals are separated, as we have seen, into great typical groups, and it is within these groups only that we may trace an evident continuity. However, one principle animates them all, the life principle; one impulse moves them all, love for the young.

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1. THE equatorial coast of Africa has recently yielded to science a gigantic kind of man-like ape, which affords a curious confirmation of an old classic story. Somewhere about the sixth century before the Christian era, one Hanno is reported to have sailed from Carthage, through the Strait of Gibraltar, on a voyage of exploration along the coast of Africa.

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2. In the record of this voyage there occurs the following passage: Passing the Streams of Fire, we came to a bay called the Horn of the South. In the recess there was an island, in which was a lake, and in this there was another island full of wild men. But much the greater part of them were women, with hairy bodies, whom the interpreters called Gorillas.' But pursuing them, we were not able to take the men; they all escaped, being able to climb the precipices, and defended themselves with pieces

of rock. But three women, who bit and scratched those who led them, were not willing to follow. However, having killed them, we flayed them, and conveyed the skins to Carthage; for we did not sail any farther, as provisions began to fail."

3. The "wild men" of Hanno were doubtless identical with the great anthropoid ape lately rediscovered, and to which, in allusion to the old story, the name of "gorilla" has been given. The region visited by the ancient navigator is a richly-wooded country, extending about a thousand miles along the coast from the Gulf of Guinea southward; and it is precisely within these limits that the gorilla has been found in modern times.

4. This great ape makes the nearest approach of any brute animal to the human form. It is fully equal to man in stature, but immensely more broad and muscular, while its strength is colossal. Though exclusively a fruit-eater, it is described as always manifesting an enraged enmity towards man; and no negro, even though furnished with fire-arms, will willingly enter into conflict with an adult male gorilla. He is said to be more than a match for the lion.

5. The rivalry between the mighty ape and the elephant is curious, and leads to somewhat comical results. The old male gorilla is always armed with a stout stick when on the scout, and knows how to use it. The elephant has no intentional evil thoughts towards the gorilla, but unfortunately they love the same sorts of fruit. When the ape sees the elephant busy with his trunk among the twigs, he instantly regards it as an invasion of his rights; and, dropping quietly to a lower bough, he suddenly brings his club smartly down on the sensitive finger of the elephant's

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proboscis, and drives off the alarmed animal trumpeting shrilly with rage and pain.

6. There must be something exceedingly wild and unearthly in the appearance of one of these apes, so demonlike in hideousness, in the solemn recesses of the dark primeval forest. The terrors with which it is invested are more than imaginary. The young athletic negroes, in their ivory hunts, well know the prowess of the gorilla. He does not, like the lion, sullenly retreat on seeing them, but swings himself rapidly down to the lower branches, courts the conflict, and clutches at the foremost of his enemies. His green eyes flash with rage, and the hideous aspect of his visage is increased by the thick and prominent brows drawn spasmodically up and down, with the hair erect, causing a horrible and fiendish scowl. Weapons are torn from their possessors' grasp, and gun-barrels are bent by the powerful hands and vice-like teeth of the enraged brute.

7. Dreadful is the sudden and unexpected fate which is often inflicted by him. It has happened that two negroes have been walking in a woodland path, unsuspicions of evil. Suddenly one misses his companion, or turns to see him drawn up in the air with a convulsed choking cry, and in a few minutes dropped to the ground a strangled corpse. The terrified survivor gazes up, and meets the grin and glare of the fiendish giant, who, watching his opportunity, had suddenly put down his immense hind-hand, caught the wretch by the neck with resistless power, and dropped him only when he ceased to struggle. Surely a horrible improvised gallows this!

Gosse.

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34.- A YOUNG ORANG-OUTANG.

dom'i-ciled [-sild], housed.

dom'i-nant, prevailing, leading.

gro-tesque'ly [-tesk'ly], funnily.

ma-neu'ver [-nū'ver], dodge, trick. phys-i-og'no-my, countenance. yards, sail-timbers.

1. WHILE residing in the island of Java, I desired to secure a living specimen of this interesting animal, which many naturalists deem our nearest relation. They are rare, however, being confined to Borneo, Sumatra, and the neighboring islands. They are also difficult to capture, as they make their home in the thick forests, a fact that gives rise to the name orang-outang, meaning in the native language "wild man of the woods."

2. My wish was at last gratified by the capture of a fine young animal, which I domiciled under a tamarind-tree near my dwelling. There it made a bed, composed or small interlaced branches covered with leaves. On this it passed the greater portion of its time, looking out for the people who carried fruit, and, when they approached, descending to obtain a share. At sunset it settled itself for the night, and got up at dawn to visit its friends, who always welcomed it.

3. When I was about to sail for England, I had the young orang taken on board ship. He was secured by an iron chain to a ring-bolt; but he unfastened it and ran away, when, finding the trailing chain an incumbrance, he threw it over his shoulder. As he released himself in this manner several times, I decided to allow him to go at large. He became very familiar with the sailors, played with them, and knew how to escape when pursued, by darting into inaccessible parts of the rigging.

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