英國學生科學讀本 Lesson 79 扎人的刺猬(2)

With these claws the hedgehog can burrow in the earth under the roots of trees, or in old walls; and in such places he often makes his home.

憑借這些鋒利的工具, 刺猬能夠在樹根或老墻之下打洞穿行, 通常也都在這些地方安家落戶。

The hedgehog has no less than thirty-six teeth in his mouth, twenty being in the upper and sixteen in the lower jaw. With these teeth the little animal seizes and crushes the insects on which he chiefly lives.

刺猬的嘴巴中至少有三十六顆牙齒, 其中二十顆長在上顎, 另外十六顆分布在下顎。憑借這些牙齒, 刺猬就可以咬住并撕碎捕食到的昆蟲。

Many people keep a hedgehog in their cellars and kitchens, to get rid of cockroaches, for he soon eats up these troublesome little insects. The hedgehog also eats earth-worms, snails, and slugs, and does much good in this way. He does a little harm, too, by eating roots and seeds. Hedgehogs kept as pets soon become fond of bread and milk.

很多人都會在地窖或廚房中飼養(yǎng)一只刺猬, 因為有了它的存在, 蟑螂這種煩人的昆蟲很快就會銷聲匿跡。刺猬還會捕食蚯蚓、蝸牛以及鼻涕蟲, 這對人類來說非常有益。不過它也會干壞事：有時候吞食植物的根部與種子。我們發(fā)現(xiàn), 那些寵物刺猬很快就會喜歡上面包與牛奶。

We do not often see the hedgehog in our morning walks, for he does his walking during the night. He sleeps all day, and at night he goes forth to hunt for insects and other food. He sleeps through all the cold winter, too, lying snugly coiled up in his nest under the roots of some old tree.

我們在清晨散步時很少能夠看到刺猬, 因為它習慣在夜間活動。白天, 它休養(yǎng)生息;晚上, 它便出動捕食昆蟲或尋覓其他食物。到了寒冷的冬天, 它便躲在老樹樹根下的小窩中, 蜷成一團, 舒適地享受著整整一個冬天的美夢。

The hedgehog has not very keen sight, but he can smell things very well. As he runs after his prey he makes a squeaking noise. If you have a tame hedgehog, you must not be surprised when you hear his funny little voice at night just as you are going to sleep.

刺猬的視力非常差勁, 不過嗅覺卻極為靈敏。當它追捕獵物的時候就會發(fā)出吱吱的叫聲。如果你飼養(yǎng)了一只寵物刺猬, 那么當你晚上準備睡覺的時候如果聽到它發(fā)出那種有趣的小動靜, 請不要吃驚。

Never injure or torment a hedgehog if you meet one in the lanes or fields. He is doing good by seeking for the insects which would otherwise eat the crops and garden-plants. He also attacks and kills snakes of all kinds, and it is said that he does not fear the bite of poisonous snakes.

如果你在小路上或者野地里看到一只刺猬, 請不要傷害或者折磨它。因為它總是在捕食那些可能對莊稼與花草造成危害的昆蟲, 它對人類有益。刺猬還會攻擊與捕殺各種蛇類, 據(jù)說, 就算是被毒蛇咬上一口, 它也根本不會受到傷害。

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