XIV. THINGS THAT PUZZLE US.

 It is frequently a query¹ how the distribution of fish is so general even in the most obscure lakes and springs rising and running from points so isolated² as to apparently³ preclude⁴ such specimens⁵ from getting there. It seems strange that some species would exist at the head of a stream and not inhabit it throughout. Seas and lakes may, and do exist, without any visible outlets⁷ to the ocean, and yet are plentifully⁸ supplied with varieties of fish. Now what may be a rational explanation of how they got there. It cannot seem right to say that they originally existed in an adjacent sea or the nearest approach to the ocean, as they are not found in any adjacent waters and are entirely⁹ peculiar¹⁰ to their locality, having no neighbors akin¹¹. It does not seem as if such would be the case if they became isolated by some remote upheaval¹² and change of surrounding Earth’s surface, as this would only[74] divide up the family and spread the species like immigration from the eastern to the western states.

 

As asked before, where do these blind fish come from in caves where streams do not seem to have any connection with surface waters? Where do the many specimens come from in the island lakes all over the world? To all these questions there seems a simple answer when we accept the idea that the center of the Earth is the womb that is developing and sending out through every pore, seam, crevice¹³ and crack some new seed and form of life to develop a new and strange existence to us on the outside.

 

It is a Scriptural idea that “We are born of water.”

 

Creatures that have their inception¹⁴ in the bowels¹⁵ of the Earth cast their eggs as the fish and reptile¹⁶ spawn¹⁷ in our rivers. These eggs or spawn or seeds of life in whatever form are taken in the currents that course through the different strata¹⁸ of the earth by centrifugal force and pressure, taking almost any amount of time in their hermetically sealed transit¹⁹ before they reach an atmosphere in which to develop into a new existence. Any lake, spring, or fountain of water that is a living stream fed by the inexhaustible sources within, may have from that[75] varied²⁰ storehouse and laboratory of nature any specimen⁶ of fish, scale, skin, shell or reptile of any form, that no adjoining or neighboring water may develop.

 

The spawn or egg may be destroyed on its outward passage or held back by influences preventing its maturity²²; or landed on the surface under unfavorable conditions of climate, air, and properties in the water.

 

Why do shad not exist anywhere in similar coast waters? Where do they come from and is the Gulf²³ Stream to be credited with their origin? Where do the different schools of blue fish, mackerel, herring and numerous other fish find their headquarters to breed, and why after seeking other waters for a season, return to some place that seems to be their “sweet home”?

 

Was Seth Green the pioneer in transportation of spawn to distant waters for their incubation? It is more than likely that he was not; with all credit due to the great service his genius has rendered.

 

What is said of the dissemination²⁴ of fish, shells, and reptiles²⁵ may be consistently said of vegetation.

 

The earth is filled with the seed of every plant and tree and shrub²⁶ that ever sprang into life in any place, clime or time. Dig to whatever depth[76] you will, the substance you throw out, whether earth or stone, when exposed to the air, will produce some growth of vegetation. Frequently something entirely new and different from the surrounding vegetation. To assume that streams, winds, and birds carry and distribute all the seeds to their different localities where found in an isolated condition, is too much for human credulity. On the tops of mountains, where streams do not run uphill on the surface, where the birds seldom fly, and on spaces impossible for seeds to be carried by winds, you find species peculiar to their altitude, atmosphere and soil.

 

Through the channels that eternally pour from never ending supplies, and in which storehouse are mingled²⁷ the seeds from every valley, plain and mountain top of our Earth; from this source they can be scattered²⁸ and mixed in every inch of the soil which composes our Earth from center to surface, and when brought into contact with our atmosphere start into new and varied existences.

 

The question may be reasonably asked if many of the reptilian²⁹ specimens attributed to remote antiquity³⁰ as belonging to our Earth’s surface, may not be specimens from an interior world, and even now have representatives of their existence there?

 

[77]Certain plants and growths require specific treatment and conditions. Wherever pond lilies, peppermint³¹, cattails, flag-root, cresses, and moss³² in wells are found is unfailing proof of living fountains of water.

 

The ocean furnishes every facility of transportation through the co-operative system without and within. The millions of seed that mature in different climes on the surface are dropped and carried by floods and currents into the main ocean. Some sink and lie buried for ages, retaining their germs of life, for the outer ocean has its regular currents and motions to such an extent, it would not make a general distribution of seed in countless³³ years.

 

Through this avenue passing under the ice belt, every variety is more or less drawn³⁴ into this general receptacle which, in turn carries them inward and outward, and in course of time filters them in their course into every inch of the earth through which the water passes; which is in this way the medium of transportation.

 

By this means every spoonful of earth is in time prepared to give growth of new life to any plant or tree that has ever existed when exposed to the influence of air and heat or even cold, to revive its species.

 

In passing to the surface, like the spawn of[78] fish, they may pass through localities of such excessive heat as to destroy their life germs, as is undoubtedly³⁵ the case with the spawn that should travel through waters like geysers of Iceland or the Yellowstone Park or waters similar to these, whose streams that flow away always show a dearth³⁶ of fish.

 

With the Earth formed like this, the writer claims it to be on the principle of a globe for a gas jet, open on both sides and presenting as it turns inward a funnel³⁷ shaped entrance, which is without doubt over 1,500 miles across; this passage would be just as vast to the eye as the size of, or distance to, the fixed³⁸ stars, the eye losing all conception of measure, and a thousand miles is just as much beyond our scope of vision as a million.

 

In almost any position you can imagine the Earth to revolve³⁹ around the Sun, one of these sides or ends must be partially⁴⁰ and at times wholly exposed to the Sun’s rays, and the effect, it seems natural to suppose, would make the interior horizons light as the exterior⁴¹. The water, it is believed, on any body acts as a reflector and is a giver of light from every planetary body in some degree.

 

It is all gas, to talk about the gaseous⁴² condition and nature of the Sun, and “other worlds[79] than ours.” They would at best be a very poor investment and not worth the labor²¹ and genius of a power able to create; 160 acres of good land in any productive locality would be worth more than 1,000 such whirling pyrotechnics of space.

 

It is altogether too presumptive to suppose that our little Earth with all its boasted cities, and boroughs⁴³ thrown in, can be the only habitation for poor, vain and sinful man.

1 query   

n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑

参考例句：

• I query very much whether it is wise to act so hastily.我真怀疑如此操之过急地行动是否明智。
• They raised a query on his sincerity.他们对他是否真诚提出质疑。

2 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 preclude   

vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍

参考例句：

• We try to preclude any possibility of misunderstanding.我们努力排除任何误解的可能性。
• My present finances preclude the possibility of buying a car.按我目前的财务状况我是不可能买车的。

5 specimens   

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

• Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
• The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 specimen   

n.样本，标本

参考例句：

• You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
• This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。

7 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 plentifully   

adv. 许多地，丰饶地

参考例句：

• The visitors were plentifully supplied with food and drink. 给来宾准备了丰富的食物和饮料。
• The oil flowed plentifully at first, but soon ran out. 起初石油大量涌出，但很快就枯竭了。

9 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

10 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

11 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

12 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

13 crevice   

n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口

参考例句：

• I saw a plant growing out of a crevice in the wall.我看到墙缝里长出一棵草来。
• He edged the tool into the crevice.他把刀具插进裂缝里。

14 inception   

n.开端，开始，取得学位

参考例句：

• The programme has been successful since its inception.这个方案自开始实施以来一直卓有成效。
• Julia's worked for that company from its inception.自从那家公司开办以来，朱莉娅一直在那儿工作。

15 bowels   

n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处

参考例句：

• Salts is a medicine that causes movements of the bowels. 泻盐是一种促使肠子运动的药物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cabins are in the bowels of the ship. 舱房设在船腹内。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 reptile   

n.爬行动物；两栖动物

参考例句：

• The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
• So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以，你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。

17 spawn   

n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产

参考例句：

• The fish were madly pushing their way upstream to spawn.鱼群为产卵而疯狂地向上游挤进。
• These fish will lay spawn in about one month from now.这些鱼大约一个月内会产卵。

18 strata   

n.地层（复数）；社会阶层

参考例句：

• The older strata gradually disintegrate.较老的岩层渐渐风化。
• They represent all social strata.他们代表各个社会阶层。

19 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

20 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

21 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

22 maturity   

n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期

参考例句：

• These plants ought to reach maturity after five years.这些植物五年后就该长成了。
• This is the period at which the body attains maturity.这是身体发育成熟的时期。

23 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

24 dissemination   

传播,宣传,传染(病毒)

参考例句：

• The dissemination of error does people great harm. 谬种流传，误人不浅。
• He was fully bent upon the dissemination of Chinese culture all over the world. 他一心致力于向全世界传播中国文化。

25 reptiles   

n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Snakes and crocodiles are both reptiles. 蛇和鳄鱼都是爬行动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Birds, reptiles and insects come from eggs. 鸟类、爬虫及昆虫是卵生的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

26 shrub   

n.灌木，灌木丛

参考例句：

• There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。
• Moving a shrub is best done in early spring.移植灌木最好是在初春的时候。

27 mingled   

混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]

参考例句：

• The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
• The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。

28 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

29 reptilian   

adj.（像）爬行动物的；（像）爬虫的；卑躬屈节的；卑鄙的n.两栖动物；卑劣的人

参考例句：

• The chick is ugly and almost reptilian in its appearance. 这只小鸡长得很丑，看起来几乎像个爬行动物。 来自辞典例句
• Being from Orion do Zetas contain DNA from the Reptilian race? 齐塔人是从猎户座而来，DNA来自爬虫族吗？ 来自互联网

30 antiquity   

n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹

参考例句：

• The museum contains the remains of Chinese antiquity.博物馆藏有中国古代的遗物。
• There are many legends about the heroes of antiquity.有许多关于古代英雄的传说。

31 peppermint   

n.薄荷，薄荷油，薄荷糖

参考例句：

• Peppermint oil is very good for regulating digestive disorders.薄荷油能很有效地调节消化系统失调。
• He sat down,popped in a peppermint and promptly choked to death.他坐下来，突然往嘴里放了一颗薄荷糖，当即被噎死。

32 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

33 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

34 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

35 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

36 dearth   

n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨

参考例句：

• There is a dearth of good children's plays.目前缺少优秀的儿童剧。
• Many people in that country died because of dearth of food.那个国家有许多人因为缺少粮食而死。

37 funnel   

n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集

参考例句：

• He poured the petrol into the car through a funnel.他用一个漏斗把汽油灌入汽车。
• I like the ship with a yellow funnel.我喜欢那条有黄烟囱的船。

38 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

39 revolve   

vi.(使)旋转；循环出现

参考例句：

• The planets revolve around the sun.行星绕着太阳运转。
• The wheels began to revolve slowly.车轮开始慢慢转动。

40 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

41 exterior   

adj.外部的，外在的；表面的

参考例句：

• The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。
• We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。

42 gaseous   

adj.气体的，气态的

参考例句：

• Air whether in the gaseous or liquid state is a fluid.空气，无论是气态的或是液态的，都是一种流体。
• Freon exists both in liquid and gaseous states.氟利昂有液态和气态两种形态。

43 boroughs   

（尤指大伦敦的）行政区( borough的名词复数 )； 议会中有代表的市镇

参考例句：

• London is made up of 32 boroughs. 伦敦由三十二个行政区组成。
• Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City. 布鲁克林区是纽约市的五个行政区之一。