"That was merely an expression of amusement."
"You find the situation amusing? I assure you, sir, you are in perilous straits at the moment. I may fly into another rage, you know."
"Please, restrain yourself. I was merely somewhat astonished—" a small whistle escaped—"at being taken for a Qornt."
"Aren't you a Qornt?"
"I? Great snail trails, no!" More stifled whistles of amusement escaped the beaked face. "Both Zubb and I are Verpp. Naturalists, as it happens."
"You certainly look like Qornt."
"Oh, not at all—except perhaps to a Terrestrial. The Qornt are sturdily built rascals, all over ten feet in height. And, of course, they do nothing but quarrel. A drone caste, actually."
"A caste? You mean they're biologically the same as you?"
"Not at all! A Verpp wouldn't think of fertilizing a Qornt."
"I mean to say, you are of the same basic stock—descended from a common ancestor, perhaps."