美國語文第五冊 第294期：野鴿過客（03）
During their evolutions, on such occasions, the dense mass which they form exhibits a beautiful appearance,
在變幻多端的隊形中，麇集鴿群的靚麗色彩令人擊節(jié)贊嘆。
as it changes its direction, now displaying a glistening sheet of azure,
倏爾，羽翼頭部一片亮晶晶的蔚藍(lán)撲面而來；
when the backs of the birds come simultaneously into view, and anon suddenly presenting a mass of rich, deep purple.
旋即，羽翼背部一團(tuán)濃郁艷麗的深紫奪路而去。
They then pass lower, over the woods, and for a moment are lost among the foliage, but again emerge, and are seen gliding aloft.
低低掠過灌叢的鴿群，不時徜徉流連于樹杈叢林間，一轉(zhuǎn)眼，又重新聚集飛往高處。
They now alight; but the next moment, as if suddenly alarmed, they take to wing,
此刻，鴿群落到地面，哪怕丁點響動，便會急速拍打雙翼騰空而起。
producing by the flappings of their wings a noise like the roar of distant thunder,
偌大鴿群拍打翼翅，聽起來像遠(yuǎn)方滾過的一陣陣轟鳴雷聲。鴿群不時穿越樹林，
and sweep through the forests to see if danger is near. Hunger, however, soon brings them to the ground.
它們仔細(xì)察覺周圍是否存在危險，不過，饑腸骨碌的它們很快再度落地覓食。
When alighted, they are seen industriously throwing up the withered leaves in quest of the fallen mast.
一旦降臨地面，野鴿們便開始翻找地上的枯枝殘葉，盡可能尋覓地上的橡樹果實，
The rear ranks are continually rising, passing over the main body,
而鳥群后翼隊伍繼續(xù)保持低飛，直到飛過整個鴿群，
and alighting in front, in such rapid succession, that the whole flock seems still on wing.
飛到前方落地，這種連續(xù)快捷的隊列，使整個鴿群處于隨時起飛狀態(tài)。
The quantity of ground thus swept is astonishing;
當(dāng)然，大面積地面果實將被劫掠一空，
and so completely has it been cleared that the gleaner who might follow in their rear would find his labor completely lost.
猶如剛剛結(jié)束徹底清掃，倘若有拾穗人跟在鴿群后撿拾，終將一無所獲。
On such occasions, when the woods are filled with these pigeons,
這種情況下，因為森林原野里的野鴿持續(xù)不斷涌來。
they are killed in immense numbers, although no apparent diminution ensues.
野鴿遭遇捕殺的數(shù)量相當(dāng)驚人，盡管尚未有明顯的大批銳減，
