Gorilla
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Gorilla. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a celebrated anthropoid ape, generally believed to come nearer than any known one to man, though some contend that the affinity of the GIBBON (q. v.) is closer. The number of teeth in the gorilla, and all the old world monkeys, except the lemurs, is 32, the same as in man. The hand has the same bones as in man. The height is about 5 feet. The greatest capacity of the gorilla's brain is only 341/2 cubic inches, the least 23, against 62 in the least capacious human skull, and 114 in the greatest greatest.. elevation which overlooks the The formidable canines are only sexual characteristics, being of more moderate size in the female. The low facial angle also, and the abundant hair, with the extraordinary breadth of the chest diminish the resemblance to man. The last mentioned characteristic imparts to the animal colossal strength. It is a native of Lower Guinea and the interior of equinoctial Africa. It has a congener in the same region, the CHIMPANZEE ( q. v.). A. Skull GORIZIA or GÖRITZ or GÖRZ. A town which figured prominently in the World War, in the former Austrian crownland of Görz and Gradisca, now an Italian possession on the river Isonzo, about 36 miles N. W. of Triest. The situation is attractive, the buildings being on an Isonzo valley, with castles, monasteries, and churches, ancient and und picturesque. It is the in . character, in the foreground seat of an archbishopric, and contains a cathedral of the 17th century, archbish op's palace, college, barracks, and govern ment buildings. During the Austrian occupation it was regarded as the center of an Adriatic Riviera, and was much frequented by Austrians for health and A B C GORILLA C. Hand B. Foot vacation. The establishments include schools of various kinds, libraries, hospitals, seminaries and experiment stations. Its manufactures are considerable, including silks, thread, pottery, leather, watches, and it is a center of agricultural produce. The population which numbers about 30,000, is mainly Germanspeaking and Italian-speaking, but in race and history the town is more Italian than Austrian . During the war Gorizia was one of the most hardly contested points of the Austro-Italian front. It was strongly held by the Austrian forces. On August 4, 1916, General Cadorna opened fire along the Isonzo front, delivering a frontal attack on the forces opposite Gorizia. The Italian forces went forward with the utmost vehemence and the heights of Monte Calvario and Monte Podgora above Gorizia were carried in the first rush. South of Gorizia the Italians also took Monte San Michele, the key to the Gorizia position, which had been a heavily contested point from the first clash between Italy and the Austrians. The Austrian forces met the repeated attacks of the enemy with great stubbornness; nevertheless, after a battle lasting two days, the heights west of Gorizia were occupied, and King Victor Emmanuel at the head of his infantry entered Gorizia on August 9. From that time forth the Italian commander put forth all his efforts to consolidate his position around Gorizia. The city was turned into a veritable stronghold, and was made a base of supply for the advance toward the capture of for Trieste. But east of Gorizia were great elevations well guarded by Austrian guns, with whole labyrinthine intrenchments blocking the way. Italian offensive in the early part of During the August the Austrians had lost, according to the Italian estimate, 65,000 men, including 18,758 prisoners. In November, Italian forces, attacking the heights east of Gorizia, brought in 9,000 more Austrians. During the winter the Italians made preparations for a great offensive, starting from Gorizia, which was intended to capture Trieste, destroy Austrian naval power in the Adriatic and open the road to Vienna. The enemy was first to be engaged all along the line, and then a surprise attack was to be launched north of Gorizia . An attempt of this sort was made in May, 1917, and some initial successes were obtained, Monte Cucco, Monte Santo, Lucati , and Bagni, being captured. But the Austrians had also been making preparations , and were re-enforced by the collapse of Russia. In June they launched a strong offensive, driving back the Italians . Austrians and Italians then for a time answered offensive with offensive, and the Italians won some signal successes crossing the Isonzo in August, after diverting the river by an important engineering feat. Toward Vol. IV-Cyc-X the end of 1917, however, the Austrian forces staged a big surprise. Austro- German batteries on October 21 bombarded the Plezzo-Tolmino front with extraordinary intensity, the infantry breaking through the Italian positions and crossing the Isonzo. the Natisone and Indrio river valleys, Advancing down they forced the second and third Italian armies to retire. In five days the Austro- Germans were able to announce that they had captured 60,000 men and 500 guns. which overlooked the Italian rear, and Seizing Monte Matajar, capturing the workers on the roads beon the Carso plateau hastily to fall back hind the front, they forced the Italians over the Isonzo , and menaced the entire army in that region. On Oct. 28 railway communication between the front and Udine was interrupted by the capture of Cividale, and Gorizia fell simultaneously into the hands of the Aushalt till the Piave river was reached. trians. The Austrian advance did not Before the enemy reached the Tagliamento, Italy had lost 180, 1,500 guns. At the Livenza the totals 80,000 men, and had swelled to 250,000 and 2,300 guns. a gain of 300,000 men, 2,700 guns, with At the Piave, German reports showed the occupation of 4,000 square miles of there was little change to the end of the Italian territory. From those positions base of supply behind the Austrian front. war and Gorizia was made a powerful
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
the largest of the man-like apes. It is closely related to the chimpanzee, but is larger and stronger. It more nearly approaches the carriage of a man, to whom in many ways it has an alarming resemblance. It is tailless, and walks erect without difficulty. It spends part of the time on the ground, but is best adapted to climbing in trees. The skin is black; the hair is gray. A large specimen attains a height of five and one-half or six feet. The largest weighs 500 pounds. The gorilla is at home in the forests of equatorial Africa, about 200 miles from the western coast. According to newspaper accounts a giant gorilla was killed in the Congo Valley in 1905. It stood seven and one-half feet high and weighed 800 pounds. The gorilla lives chiefly on fruits. Its powerful teeth are used to crack nuts that would require a blow from a heavy hammer. It has a terrific voice and is possessed of extraordinary strength but is an inoffensive animal when let alone. Its spare time is spent in a hammock constructed of wild vines in the branches of a tree from twenty to fifty feet above the ground. It allows no neighbor in the same tree. The best account of the gorilla may be found in the Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa of Du Chaillu, by whom, indeed, a skeleton was brought to Europe in 1859. In body, the gorilla is more like man than is any other ape. In point of intelligence and disposition, it is inferior to the chimpanzee. It does not thrive in captivity. There are only three or four specimens outside of Africa,--probably none in the United States . It is so used to the torrid, steaming climate of the Congo Valley that it dies on shipboard. See Chimpanzee ; Orang-Utan; Monkey