Professor Thunder, what branch of the Simian family this--this creature of yours belongs ?" "Well," said the Professor, "he is said to be most closely connected with the gorillas." "Nonsense, man! Gorilla, rubbish! Look at that pelvis, sir, look at those arms.

That's no more a gorilla than I am." "May I ask to whom I have the honour of speaking ?" asked the Professor, in his coldly polite manner--his most superior professional attitude.
"My name is Andrew McKnight, if that's any good to you.

If that is a gorilla, sir, where are his vertebral processes, tell me that?
And how comes it that his legs are almost as long as those of man ?" The Missing Link, who had doffed his airs of civilisation, and was now crouched in the straw, began snarling at this.

It seemed almost as if Mr.
McKnight's criticism were making the poor beast angry.
"You must remember, sir, that this animal is not of any known species," said Professor Thunder, who had a large collection of stock phrases for such discussions.

"He is in a manner a creature apart." "I should say so.