Путешествие к центру земли

Wonders of the Deep

           Theheadofthisfishwasflat,butroundedinfront,andtheanteriorpartofitsbodywasplatedwithbony,angularscales;ithadnoteeth,itspectoralfinswerelarge,andoftailtherewasnone.Theanimalbelongedtothesameorderasthesturgeon,butdifferedfromthatfishinmanyessentialparticulars.Afterashortexaminationmyunclepronouncedhisopinion.

           "Thisfishbelongstoanextinctfamily,ofwhichonlyfossiltracesarefoundinthedevonianformations."

           "What!"Icried."Havewetakenaliveaninhabitantoftheseasofprimitiveages?"

           "Yes;andyouwillobservethatthesefossilfisheshavenoidentitywithanylivingspecies.Tohaveinone’spossessionalivingspecimenisahappyeventforanaturalist."

           "Buttowhatfamilydoesitbelong?"

           "Itisoftheorderofganoids,ofthefamilyofthecephalaspidae;andaspeciesofpterichthys.Butthisonedisplaysapeculiarityconfinedtoallfishesthatinhabitsubterraneanwaters.Itisblind,andnotonlyblind,butactuallyhasnoeyesatall."

           Ilooked:nothingcouldbemorecertain.Butsupposingitmightbeasolitarycase,webaitedafresh,andthrewoutourline.Surelythisoceaniswellpeopledwithfish,forinanothercoupleofhourswetookalargequantityofpterichthydes,aswellasofothersbelongingtotheextinctfamilyofthedipterides,butofwhichmyunclecouldnottellthespecies;nonehadorgansofsight.Thisunhoped-forcatchrecruitedourstockofprovisions.

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