The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-02-21


as the painted picture" said 1.
1T is the same place." the pro-
lessor answered. II found traces
of the fellows camp. Now look at
this"
1t was a nearer view of the same
scene, though the photograph was
extremely defective. / could dis
tinctly see the isolated tree-crowned
pinnacle Of rock which was detached
from the crag.
Il have no doubt of it at ALL"
said I.
"Well, that is something gained,
said he. I'VE progress, do we not?
Now will you please look at the
top Of that rocky pinnacle? Do
you observe something there?"
IAN enormous tree"
"But on the tree?"
"A large bird" said I.
He handed me lens.
yes" / said, peering through 1t,
appears to have considerable beak.
L should say it was pelican"
II cannot congratulate you upon
your eyesight," said the professor.
1T Is not a pelican, nor indeed. Is
it bird. 1t may interest you to
know that I succeeded in shooting
that particular specimen. 1t was
the only absolute proof Of my ex-
periences which I was able to
bring away with me-"
you have 1t, them" Here at
las. was tangible confederation.
II had 1t. 1t was unfortunately
lost with so much else in the same
boat accident which ruined my
photographs. I clutched at 1t as II
disappeared in the swirl of the rapids
and part Of It's wing was left in my
hand. was insensible when washed
ashore, but the miserable remnant
Of my superb specimen was still in
tact; now lay 1t before YOU"
From drawer he produced what
seemed to me to be the upper por-
ton Of a wing of large bat. It
was at least two feet in length, a
curved bone, with a membraneous
veil beneath It.
"A monstrous bat" I suggested.
Nothing Of the sort" said the
Professor, severely. Living. as
do, in an educated and scientific
atmosphere, J. could not have con-
ceived that the first principles of
zoology were so little known. Is
1t possible that you do not know the
elementary fact in comparative
anatomy, that the wing of a bird is
really the forearm, while the wing
Of bat consists of three elongated
! fingers with membranes between?
Now, In this case, the bone Is GER
tainly not the forearm, and you can
see for yourself that this is a single
membrane hanging upon a single
bone, and therefore that 1t cannot
belong to a bat. But If 1t is neither
bird nor bat, what is it?"
My small stock Of knowledge was
exhausted.
Il really do not know" said /.
He opened the standard work to
which he had already referred me.
Here" said he, pointing to the
picture Of an extraordinary flying
monster, lis an excellent reproduc-
ton OF the dimorphondon, or
pterodactyl, a flying reptile Of the
Jurassic period. On the next page
Is q diagram Of the mechanism Of
its wing. Kindly compare it with
the specimen in your hand"
A wave Of amzement passed over
me as I looked. I was convinced.
There could be no getting away from
1t. The cumulative proof was over
whelming. The sketch, the photo
graphs. the narrative, and now the
actual specimen-the evidence was
complete. 1 said SOL said SO
warmly, for felt that the Profess
sor was an illused man. He leaned
back in his chair with dropping eye.
lids and q tolerant smile, basking
in this sudden CLEAN Of sunshine.
TITS just the very biggest thing
that ever heard OFF, said 1, though
1t was my journalistic rather than
my scientific enthusiasm that was
aroused. 1T is colossal. You are q
Columbus Of science who has discov-
cred a lost world. I'm awfully sor-
ry II I semed to doubt you. It was
all so unthinkable. But I under
stand evidence when / see It, and
this should be good enough for any
one."
The professor purred with salts
faction.
"And then, sir, what did you do
next?"
1T was the wet season, Mr.. Ma
lone, and my stores were. ex-
hausted. I explored some portion
Of this huge cliff, but / was unable
to find any way to scale It. The
pyramidaI rock upon which I saw
and shot the peterodactyl was more
accessible. Being something Of r.
cragsman did manage 10 get half
way to the top Of that. From that
height I had u better idea Of the
plateau upon the top Of the crags.
1t appeared to be very large;
neither % east nor to west could I
see any end to the vista of green
capped cliffs. Below. 1t is a swampy,
jungly region, full Of snakes, IN
sects and fever. I; Is a natu,al
protection to this singular coun-
try"