"With our limitations we're not that curious. They're a violent, vicious, suspicious lot—some two or three billion of them. And they have some nasty little weapons at their disposal. Their nature seems to be to hate what they don't understand. Shoot first and question later."
"Thanks for the warning—"
"Not that you need it. With your metamorphic abilities you can easily—"
"Of course. Now, on what question did you seek my opinion?"
The Vegan was slow in answering, as if the question were still hazy in his mind. Then he said, "Our observations seem to indicate that these creatures are divided into two general categories, but the only distinctions we can detect are so superficial as to be ridiculous. One is in the manner of attiring themselves, and the other—" He paused as if reluctant.
"Yes, yes?"
"Well, this may seem fatuous, but all reproduction appears to be confined to one of the types."
"That would be unique," the Sirian granted.
"But if this is true, there must be more important differences between the two types," the Vegan went on. "Basic differences, one would expect."
"Then your question to me is, what are these differences, if any?"