Загублений світ
Those Were the Real Conquests
"Myownreadingofthesituationforwhatitisworth—"heinflatedhischestenormouslyandlookedinsolentlyaroundhimatthewords—"isthatevolutionhasadvancedunderthepeculiarconditionsofthiscountryuptothevertebratestage,theoldtypessurvivingandlivingonincompanywiththenewerones.Thuswefindsuchmoderncreaturesasthetapir—ananimalwithquitearespectablelengthofpedigree—thegreatdeer,andtheant-eaterinthecompanionshipofreptilianformsofjurassictype.Somuchisclear.Andnowcometheape-menandtheIndian.Whatisthescientificmindtothinkoftheirpresence?Icanonlyaccountforitbyaninvasionfromoutside.ItisprobablethatthereexistedananthropoidapeinSouthAmerica,whoinpastagesfoundhiswaytothisplace,andthathedevelopedintothecreatureswehaveseen,someofwhich"—herehelookedhardatme—"wereofanappearanceandshapewhich,ifithadbeenaccompaniedbycorrespondingintelligence,would,Idonothesitatetosay,havereflectedcredituponanylivingrace.AstotheIndiansIcannotdoubtthattheyaremorerecentimmigrantsfrombelow.Underthestressoffamineorofconquesttheyhavemadetheirwayuphere.
