Загублений світ
It’s Just the very Biggest Thing in the World
Isitpossiblethatyoudonotknowtheelementaryfactincomparativeanatomy,thatthewingofabirdisreallytheforearm,whilethewingofabatconsistsofthreeelongatedfingerswithmembranesbetween?Now,inthiscase,theboneiscertainlynottheforearm,andyoucanseeforyourselfthatthisisasinglemembranehanginguponasinglebone,andthereforethatitcannotbelongtoabat.Butifitisneitherbirdnorbat,whatisit?"
Mysmallstockofknowledgewasexhausted.
"Ireallydonotknow,"saidI.
Heopenedthestandardworktowhichhehadalreadyreferredme.
"Here,"saidhe,pointingtothepictureofanextraordinaryflyingmonster,"isanexcellentreproductionofthedimorphodon,orpterodactyl,aflyingreptileoftheJurassicperiod.Onthenextpageisadiagramofthemechanismofitswing.Kindlycompareitwiththespecimeninyourhand."
AwaveofamazementpassedovermeasIlooked.Iwasconvinced.Therecouldbenogettingawayfromit.Thecumulativeproofwasoverwhelming.Thesketch,thephotographs,thenarrative,andnowtheactualspecimen—theevidencewascomplete.Isaidso—Isaidsowarmly,forIfeltthattheProfessorwasanill-usedman.Heleanedbackinhischairwithdroopingeyelidsandatolerantsmile,baskinginthissuddengleamofsunshine.
"It’sjusttheverybiggestthingthatIeverheardof!"saidI,thoughitwasmyjournalisticratherthanmyscientificenthusiasmthatwasroused."Itiscolossal.
