美國語文第四冊 第46期：鷹
The eagle seems to enjoy a kind of supremacy over the rest of the inhabitants of the air.
鷹似乎比飛在空中的其他動物擁有更至高無上的地位。
Such is the loftiness of his flight, that he often soars in the sky beyond the reach of the naked eye,
包括它的飛行高度——它能夠在空中翱翔到肉眼看不到的高度，
and such is his strength that he has been known to carry away children in his talons.
還有它的力量——據(jù)說它可以用爪子提起小孩。
But many of the noble qualities imputed to him are rather fanciful than true.
但是它被賦予的很多卓越品質(zhì)都是想象出來的，并不是事實。
He has been desCRIbed as showing a lofty independence,
在人們的描述中，它表現(xiàn)出很高傲的自主性。
which makes him disdain to feed on anything that is not slain by his own strength.
這使它不屑于進食非它自己力量殺死的獵物。
But Alexander Wilson, the great naturalist, says that he has seen an eagle feasting on the carcass of a horse.
但偉大的博物學(xué)家亞歷山大.威爾森說他曾看到一只鷹把一匹馬的殘骸當(dāng)大餐。
The eagle lives to a great age.
鷹可以活到很大年紀(jì)。
One at Vienna is stated to have died after a confinement of one hundred and four years.
一只生活在維也納的鷹據(jù)說在被飼養(yǎng)了104年后離世。
There are several species of the eagle.
鷹分為很多種類。
The golden eagle, which is one of the largest, is nearly four feet from the point of the beak to the end of the tail.
金鷹，即鷲，是最大的之一，從鳥喙的頂點到尾部幾乎有四英尺長。
He is found in most parts of Europe, and is also met with in America.
它生活在歐洲大部分地區(qū)，同樣也出現(xiàn)在美國。
High rocks and ruined and lonely towers are the places which he chooses for his abode.
高高的巖石或者廢棄、荒涼的高塔是它自己選擇的棲身之所。
His nest is composed of sticks and rushes.
它的窩一般由木棍和燈芯草制成。
The tail feathers are highly valued as ornaments by the American Indians.
鷲尾部的羽毛非常名貴，因為美洲的印第安人用它們做裝飾品。
The most interesting species is the bald eagle, as this is an American bird, and the adopted emblem of our country.
最有趣的種類要數(shù)禿鷹了，因為它是一種美國鳥，并且已經(jīng)被當(dāng)作了美國的象征。
He lives chiefly upon fish, and is found in the neighborhood of the sea,
它主要以魚類為食，棲息在美國附近的海域，
and along the shores and cliffs of our large lakes and rivers.
以及大河、大湖的海岸邊和巖石上。
According to the desCRIption given by Wilson, he depends, in procuring his food, chiefly upon the labors of others.
根據(jù)威爾森給出的描述，禿鷹獲取食物主要依靠其他鳥類的勞動。
He watches the fishhawk as he dives into the sea for his prey, and darting down upon him as he rises,
當(dāng)魚鷹扎進海里捕食獵物時，禿鷹會在一邊旁觀。等魚鷹一出水面，禿鷹就會沖撞它，
forces him to relinquish his victim, and then seizes it before it again reaches the water.
迫使它放棄獵物，然后在獵物返回水面前把它抓住。
One of the most notable species is the harpy eagle.
其中最引人注目的是哈比鷹。
This is said to be bold and strong, and to attack beasts, and even man himself.
據(jù)說它非常大膽，非常強壯，會襲擊野獸甚至人類。
He is fierce, quarrelsome, and sullen, living alone in the deepest forests.
同時它也異常兇猛、好斗，總是非常陰郁而沉默，獨自生活在森林深處。
He is found chiefly in South America.
主要棲息在南美地區(qū)。
