18 · 海豚
Porpoises
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There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface, or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation. Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that, however intelligent they may be, it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of lifesaving. On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport, as in riding the bow waves of a ship. In 1928 some porpoises were photographed working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress. If, as has been reported, they have protected humans from sharks, it may have been because curiosity attracted them and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks. Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies. It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed.
Whether it be bird, fish or beast, the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive.They are constantly after the turtles, who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities. One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane. Almost any day a young porpoise may be seen trying to turn a 300-pound sea turtle over by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell and pushing up for dear life. This is not easy, and may require two porpoises working together. In another game, as the turtle swims across the oceanarium, the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly. This knocks the turtle down several feet. He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack. Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank. He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up, but as soon as he does so a porpoise knocks him flat. The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over.
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There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface, or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation. Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that, however intelligent they may be, it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of lifesaving. On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport, as in riding the bow waves of a ship. In 1928 some porpoises were photographed working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress. If, as has been reported, they have protected humans from sharks, it may have been because curiosity attracted them and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks. Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies. It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed.
Whether it be bird, fish or beast, the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive.They are constantly after the turtles, who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities. One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane. Almost any day a young porpoise may be seen trying to turn a 300-pound sea turtle over by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell and pushing up for dear life. This is not easy, and may require two porpoises working together. In another game, as the turtle swims across the oceanarium, the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly. This knocks the turtle down several feet. He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack. Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank. He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up, but as soon as he does so a porpoise knocks him flat. The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over.
海员中长期流传着一种迷信：海豚会把溺水者顶上水面，或者围成防御阵形，保护人不受鲨鱼攻击。海洋摄影场的生物学家指出，不管海豚多么聪明，把它们的行为归因于救人的动机，大概还是误解。有时它们把失去知觉的人推上岸，更可能只是出于好奇或玩耍，就像它们喜欢乘着船首激起的波浪游动一样。一九二八年，有人拍到几只海豚忙个不停，合力把一张浸透水的床垫推上岸。如果它们确实像报道所说，曾保护人免受鲨鱼攻击，也可能只是好奇心把海豚吸引了过来，而可能到手的一餐则把鲨鱼引了过来。海豚和鲨鱼本就是天然的对手；当时或许发生了一场搏斗，结果鲨鱼被赶走或杀死了。
无论鸟、鱼还是其他动物，只要是活物，海豚都感兴趣。它们经常追着海龟玩，海龟则安静地忍受各种捉弄。有只小海豚尤其喜欢用吻部把海龟顶到水面，再像推滑水板一样，把它推过水池。几乎每天都能看到，小海豚把吻部伸到一只三百磅重的海龟的龟壳边缘下，拼命向上顶，试图把它掀翻。这并不容易，有时要两只海豚合作才行。另一种游戏是，海龟游过水族池时，第一只海豚从上方俯冲下来，用腹部撞它的壳，把它撞低好几英尺。海龟刚恢复平衡，第二只海豚又赶来猛撞一下。最后，海龟一路被顶到池底。此时，它只求能重新站稳，可刚一站起，就又被海豚撞倒。海龟终于放弃，把四肢缩进壳里，游戏这才结束。
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译文依据整理稿，由本站按中文表达重新校订；解析据吴应时整理资料及首轮审校稿；词伙与练习提示为本站学习设计。原PDF第72—75页，2022年2月第2版。