23 · 鸟的飞行方法
Bird Flight
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No two sorts of birds practice quite the same sort of flight; the varieties are infinite; but two classes may be roughly seen. Any ship that crosses the Pacific is accompanied for many days by the smaller albatross, which may keep company with the vessel for an hour without visible or more than occasional movement of wing. The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards, as well as in the line of its course, are enough to give the great bird with its immense wings sufficient sustenance and progress. The albatross is the king of the gliders, the class of fliers which harness the air to their purpose, but must yield to its opposition.
In the contrary school, the duck is supreme. It comes nearer to the engines with which man has "conquered" the air, as he boasts. Duck, and like them the pigeons, are endowed with steel-like muscles, that are a good part of the weight of the bird, and these will ply the short wings with such irresistible power that they can bore for long distances through an opposing gale before exhaustion follows. Their humbler followers, such as partridges, have a like power of strong propulsion, but soon tire. You may pick them up in utter exhaustion, if wind over the sea has driven them to a long journey.
The swallow shares the virtues of both schools in highest measure. It tires not, nor does it boast of its power; but belongs to the air, travelling it may be six thousand miles to and from its northern nesting home, feeding its flown young as it flies, and slipping through a medium that seems to help its passage even when the wind is adverse. Such birds do us good, though we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that; and even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good-morning.
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整篇课文
No two sorts of birds practice quite the same sort of flight; the varieties are infinite; but two classes may be roughly seen. Any ship that crosses the Pacific is accompanied for many days by the smaller albatross, which may keep company with the vessel for an hour without visible or more than occasional movement of wing. The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards, as well as in the line of its course, are enough to give the great bird with its immense wings sufficient sustenance and progress. The albatross is the king of the gliders, the class of fliers which harness the air to their purpose, but must yield to its opposition.
In the contrary school, the duck is supreme. It comes nearer to the engines with which man has "conquered" the air, as he boasts. Duck, and like them the pigeons, are endowed with steel-like muscles, that are a good part of the weight of the bird, and these will ply the short wings with such irresistible power that they can bore for long distances through an opposing gale before exhaustion follows. Their humbler followers, such as partridges, have a like power of strong propulsion, but soon tire. You may pick them up in utter exhaustion, if wind over the sea has driven them to a long journey.
The swallow shares the virtues of both schools in highest measure. It tires not, nor does it boast of its power; but belongs to the air, travelling it may be six thousand miles to and from its northern nesting home, feeding its flown young as it flies, and slipping through a medium that seems to help its passage even when the wind is adverse. Such birds do us good, though we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that; and even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good-morning.
没有哪两种鸟的飞行方式完全相同；变化虽无穷无尽，大致仍可分成两类。横渡太平洋的船，往往会有小型信天翁相伴多日。它们可以跟着船飞上一个小时，几乎不见扇动翅膀，或者只是偶尔扇动一下。沿着船壁向上、沿着航向向前的气流，足以为这种双翼巨大的鸟提供升力和前进的动力。信天翁是滑翔者之王。这类鸟善于借助空气来飞行，却也必须在气流不利时顺应它。
另一类中，野鸭最为出色。它的飞行方式更接近人类用来自夸已经“征服”天空的发动机。野鸭与鸽子一样，有钢铁般强健的肌肉，肌肉占去身体重量的很大一部分。它们凭这些肌肉有力地扇动短翅，能顶着强劲的逆风飞很远，才会精疲力竭。相比之下，鹧鸪等鸟虽然也有很强的推进力，却很快就会疲倦。如果海风迫使它们长途飞行，你甚至能捡到累得动弹不得的鸟。
燕子把两类飞行方式的优点发挥到了极致。它不知疲倦，也不炫耀力量，仿佛天生就属于天空。往返北方的筑巢地，它可能要飞六千英里；途中还能边飞边喂已经学会飞行的幼鸟。它轻巧地穿过空气，即使逆风，空气也仿佛在帮助它前进。这样的鸟让我们感到愉悦，尽管我们早已不再从鸟向这边或那边飞来占卜吉凶，连最迷信的村民也不再向喜鹊脱帽、道声早安了。
学完这一课
先承认个体差异，再说明为了讨论采用的分类。
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92—95页，2022年2月第2版。