4 尼德兰(9)
Even less likely, Ned. The devilfish is merely a mollusk, and even this name hints at its semiliquid flesh, because it's Latin meaning soft one.
尼德兰，那更不对了。章鱼是软体动物，单是这个名字就已经表明它的肌肉一点也不坚强。
The devilfish doesn't belong to the vertebrate branch, and even if it were 500 feet long,
就是章鱼有五百英尺长，它也不会属于脊推动物这一门，
it would still be utterly harmless to ships like the Scotia or the Abraham Lincoln.
它对于斯各脱亚号或林肯号这类的船，决不至有损害的。
Consequently, the feats of krakens or other monsters of that ilk must be relegatedto the realm of fiction.
所以有关这类海怪或怪物的事迹，都应当看作是荒唐无稽之谈。
So, Mr. Naturalist, Ned Land continued in a bantering tone, you'll just keep on believing in the existence of some enormous cetacean?
那么，生物学专家，尼德。兰带着点讥诮的口气说,您是坚持有巨大鲸鱼类动物的存在吗?
Yes, Ned, I repeat it with a conviction backed by factual logic. I believe in the existence of a mammal with a powerful constitution,
是的，尼德兰，我再说一遍，我所以相信，我是有事实根据的。我相信海中有一种哺一乳一类动物存在，
belonging to the vertebrate branch like baleen whales, sperm whales, or dolphins, and armed with a tusk made of horn that has tremendous penetrating power.
它的躯体组织十分坚实，属于脊椎动物门，像长须鲸、大头鲸或海豚，一样，并且有一个角质的长牙，钻穿的力量十分大。
Humph! the harpooner put in, shaking his head with the attitude of a man who doesn't want to be convinced.
晤!这位鱼叉手哼了一声，同时摇摇头，一副表示不能相信的神气。