Lesson 1 Scenes in the tropics（2）第一课 热带地区的景象（2）In the deepest gloom, where the trees shut out the sun, myriads of lights flit about, and twinkle like little stars. 在森林的最深处，大树遮盖住了阳光，无数的光线飞过，就像星星一样一闪一闪地。 As they flash here and there, you might fancy that troops of fairies were floating about with torches in their hands; 它们飞来飞去，你或许会想是不是成群的仙女手持火把飘过， but there are no fairies in the case, —the lights are only the torches of the fireflies that live in the recesses of the woods, 但其实并没有仙女。这些光仅仅是由生活在森林深处的萤火虫发出来的， and every night make a kind of illumination amongst the trees. 每晚它们都会在森林里如此展示一番。 There are troops of monkeys, that run along the vegetable cables from one tree to another, or swing from the branches by their tails, 成群的猴子沿着植物的藤茎从一棵树跑到另一棵树上，或者用尾巴挂在树枝上摇摆， making a noise all the time as if they were talking to each other. 总是叽叽喳喳好像在和彼此说话。 When night comes they roll themselves into a ball, huddled together as close as may be, to keep themselves warm. 夜幕降临时，它们把自己团成球，紧紧地挤在一起取暖。 Sometimes it happens that a few little monkeys have not been alert enough to get into the ball, and are left shivering outside. 有时，一些小猴子不够机灵，没能卷成球，被留在外面瑟瑟发抖。 They keep up a pitiful howling the whole night through, as if they were telling the rest how cold and miserable they are, and begging to be let in. 它们整晚都会发出可怜的嚎叫，好像在告诉其他猴子它们感到多寒冷，多痛苦，恳求能让它们进去。 But the others pay no attention, and go quietly off to sleep. 但是其他猴子丝毫不关心，很快就睡去了。 Then there are all sorts of wonderful birds, such as we never see in our country, except in cages. 还有各种漂亮的鸟儿，好像在我们的地区除了笼子里见过，从未见过野生的。 Flocks of parrots glisten in the sun, clad in glowing scarlet, and green, and gold. 成群的鹦鹉身披红色、绿色和金色的羽毛，在阳光下熠熠生辉。 Humming-birds, like gems of beauty, come to seek honey and insects from the forest flowers. Fly-catchers gleam and sparkle everywhere. 像宝石一样美丽的蜂鸟，在森林中的花朵上寻找着蜂蜜和昆虫。捕蝇鸟闪闪发光的四处飞翔。 Water-fowl of snowy plumage sport on the streams, their white dresses contrasting with those of the red flamingo, 羽毛雪白的水禽在小溪上嬉闹，它们雪白的装束和火红的火烈鸟形成强烈对比， or the scarlet ibis, that stand patiently fishing on the shore. 朱鹭则站在岸边耐心地捕鱼。 |
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