英國語文第五冊(雙語):安第斯山的禿鷹(2)

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The bird passes a great part of the day in sleep, and hovers in quest of prey chiefly in the morning and evening. Whilst soaring at a height beyond the reach of human eyes, the sharpsighted condor discerns its prey on the level heights beneath it, and darts down upon it with the swiftness of lightning. When a bait is laid, it is curious to observe the number of condors which assemble in a quarter of an hour in a spot near which not one had been previously visible. These birds possess the senses of sight and smell in a singularly powerful degree.

禿鷹一天中大部分時間都在睡覺，一般在早晚會盤旋在空中覓食。當禿鷹翱翔在人類目所不及的高度時，它卻能敏銳地捕捉到到地面的獵物，并以閃電般的速度朝著獵物俯沖下來。當我們放好誘餌來觀察15分鐘內(nèi)能有多少禿鷹趕來時，卻發(fā)現(xiàn)之前觀察到的禿鷹一只都沒有出現(xiàn)。因為這些鳥擁有非常敏銳的視覺和嗅覺。

Some old travellers have affirmed that the plumage of the condor cannot be pierced by a musket ball. This absurdity is scarcely worthy of contradiction; but it is nevertheless true that the bird has a singular tenacity of life, and that it is seldom killed by fire-arms, unless when shot in some vital part.

一些經(jīng)驗豐富的旅行者斷言禿鷹的羽毛甚至不能被火槍子彈穿透。雖然這些謬論幾乎不值得一提，但是這些鳥的確有很頑強的生命力，而且它們很少有被射殺，除非被射中要害部位。

Its plumage, particularly on the wings, is very strong and thick. The natives, therefore, seldom attempt to shoot the condor. They usually catch it by traps or by the lasso, or kill it by stones flung from slings, or by the bolas.

它的羽毛，尤其是翅膀，非常強壯厚實。因此當?shù)厝撕苌偕錃⒍d鷹。他們一般通過設(shè)置陷阱或者套鎖，或者從吊索扔出石頭或者用流星錘殺死禿鷹。

A curious method of capturing the condor alive is practised in one province. A fresh cow-hide, with some fragments of flesh adhering to it, is spread out on one of the level heights, and an Indian provided with ropes creeps beneath it, whilst some others station themselves in ambush near the spot ready to assist him. Presently a condor, attracted by the smell of the flesh, darts down upon the cow-hide; and then the Indian, who is concealed under it, seizes the bird by the legs, and binds them fast in the skin, as if in a bag. The captured condor flaps its wings, and makes ineffectual attempts to fly, but is speedily secured, and carried in triumph to the nearest village. Live condors are frequently sold in the markets of Chili and Peru, where a very fine one may be purchased for a dollar and a half.

有一處區(qū)域活捉禿鷹的方法十分有趣。一張新鮮的牛皮附帶一些肉塊，攤在一處平地上。而一個印度人套著繩子匍匐在牛皮下，同時其他人在附近埋伏，當禿鷹聞到肉的味道出現(xiàn)了，向牛皮俯沖下來，藏著在下面的印度人一把抓住它的雙腳，并立刻綁緊它的雙腳，放進袋子里，被抓住的禿鷹扇動雙翅企圖逃走，卻只是徒勞掙扎，最后被帶到附近的村莊?；畹亩d鷹常常被賣于智利和秘魯市場，在那里，一只完好的禿鷹的成交價格為1.1美元。

—Dr. J. von Tschudi: Travels in Peru.

—Dr. J. von Tschudi：秘魯游記