As we here and there see a thin, straggling branch springing from a fork low down in a tree, and which by some chance has been favoured and is still alive on its summit, so we occasionally see an animal like the Ornithorhynchus or Lepidosiren, which in some small degree connects by its affinities two large branches of life, and which has apparently been saved from fatal competition by having inhabited a protected station.
Han hemenka adartxo galdu mehe bat, zortea alde izanik oraindik puntan bizirik dagoena, adar artetik zuhaitzaren beheko aldetik irteten ikusten dugun moduan, halaxe noizean behin ornitorrinkoa edo Lepidosirena bezalako animalia ikusten dugu, hein txiki batean, dituen kidetasunengatik, biziaren bi adar handi elkarlotzen dituena, eta, dirudienez, norgehiagoketa hondagarritik salbatu dena, leku babestuan bizi izan delako.