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Forest Scenery Illuminated by Electricity

           Butaremarkablefeaturewasthetotalabsenceofcolourinallthosetrees,shrubs,andplants,growingwithoutthelife-givingheatandlightofthesun.Everythingseemedmixed-upandconfoundedinoneuniformsilvergreyorlightbrowntintlikethatoffadingandfadedleaves.Notagreenleafanywhere,andtheflowerswhichwereabundantenoughinthetertiaryperiod,whichfirstgavebirthtoflowerslookedlikebrown-paperflowers,withoutcolourorscent.

           MyuncleLiedenbrockventuredtopenetrateunderthiscolossalgrove.Ifollowedhim,notwithoutfear.Sincenaturehadhereprovidedvegetablenourishment,whyshouldnottheterriblemammalsbetheretoo?Iperceivedinthebroadclearingsleftbyfallentrees,decayedwithage,leguminoseplants,acerineæ,rubiceæandmanyothereatableshrubs,deartoruminantanimalsateveryperiod.ThenIobserved,mingledtogetherinconfusion,treesofcountriesfarapartonthesurfaceoftheglobe.Theoakandthepalmweregrowingsidebyside,theAustralianeucalyptusleanedagainsttheNorwegianpine,thebirch-treeofthenorthmingleditsfoliagewithNewZealandkauris.Itwasenoughtodistractthemostingeniousclassifierofterrestrialbotany.

           SuddenlyIhalted.Idrewbackmyuncle.

           Thediffusedlightrevealedthesmallestobjectinthedenseanddistantthickets.IhadthoughtIsawno!Ididsee,withmyowneyes,vastcolossalformsmovingamongstthetrees.Theyweregiganticanimals;itwasaherdofmastodonsnotfossilremains,butlivingandresemblingthosethebonesofwhichwerefoundinthemarshesofOhioin1801.Isawthosehugeelephantswhoselong,flexibletrunksweregroutingandturningupthesoilunderthetreeslikealegionofserpents.

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