Recognition Scene

M'Toto (a she-gorilla) met Gargantua (a he-gorilla) last week. Their cautious introduction took place out behind the machine shop at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's winter quarters in Sarasota, Fla. The two giant gorillas whom John Ringling North hopes to mate (TIME, Dec. 30) were wheeled up face to face in their separate cages. Attendants and newsmen watched.

Scarfaced, 550-lb. Gargantua turned a curious look upon the first gorilla he had seen since he left Africa. Apparently he liked what he saw. He threw her a bouquet of celery tops. Uppishly, 438-lb. M'Toto tossed it back. He tried a head of lettuce.

M'Toto shuffled coyly across her cage and played with her black & white kitten Principe. Gargantua sulked.

To Circusman North so far was so good. Said he: "Gargantua is infatuated. Naturally M'Toto was modest and bashful." When he is reasonably sure that they will not tear each other apart, he will let the couple share the same cage.

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