Затерянный мир
It’s Just the very Biggest Thing in the World
"Alargebird,"saidI.
Hehandedmealens.
"Yes,"Isaid,peeringthroughit,"alargebirdstandsonthetree.Itappearstohaveaconsiderablebeak.Ishouldsayitwasapelican."
"Icannotcongratulateyouuponyoureyesight,"saidtheProfessor."Itisnotapelican,nor,indeed,isitabird.ItmayinterestyoutoknowthatIsucceededinshootingthatparticularspecimen.ItwastheonlyabsoluteproofofmyexperienceswhichIwasabletobringawaywithme."
"Youhaveit,then?"Hereatlastwastangiblecorroboration.
"Ihadit.Itwasunfortunatelylostwithsomuchelseinthesameboataccidentwhichruinedmyphotographs.Iclutchedatitasitdisappearedintheswirloftherapids,andpartofitswingwasleftinmyhand.Iwasinsensiblewhenwashedashore,butthemiserableremnantofmysuperbspecimenwasstillintact;Inowlayitbeforeyou."
Fromadrawerheproducedwhatseemedtometobetheupperportionofthewingofalargebat.Itwasatleasttwofeetinlength,acurvedbone,withamembranousveilbeneathit.
"Amonstrousbat!"Isuggested.
"Nothingofthesort,"saidtheProfessor,severely."Living,asIdo,inaneducatedandscientificatmosphere,Icouldnothaveconceivedthatthefirstprinciplesofzoologyweresolittleknown.
