第四十八课 美洲豹
The leopard is one of the most beautiful of the animals of the cat tribe. It is found both in Asia and in Africa. It is not so large as the tiger, but its form is more graceful, and its yellow skin is covered with beautiful black spots.
美洲豹是猫科动物中最好看的一种,分布在亚洲和非洲。美洲豹体型小雨老虎,但身型更优美,黄色皮肤上分布着漂亮的黑点。
In India it is called the tree-tiger; because it can run up a tree like a cat, and climb from bough to bough. It thus catches many creatures of the forest that the lion and the tiger could not reach.
在印度,人们把它称为树老虎,因为它能像猫一样上树,并能沿着树枝往上爬。也正因为这样,它能猎杀到很多老虎和狮子所不能的森林生物。
When a leopard is hunted, he hides himself as long as he can in the jungle; but the dogs run among the long grass, and soon find him out. When driven from his refuge, he tries to escape by running up a tree.
被追捕时,美洲豹会尽可能把自己藏在丛林中,但是猎狗在草丛中跑过就能发现它。被发现后它经常会试图跳到树上。
There he is safe from the dogs, but not from the guns of the hunters. But they dare not go too near, lest he should spring upon them. They keep at some distance, and try to shoot him.
在树上能躲过猎狗却不能躲过猎枪。但是猎人们不敢靠太近,因为害怕美洲豹会从树上扑下来。猎人们只能在远处试图射杀它。
Sometimes he is shot down at once; but if he is only wounded, he will spring upon them. Many a hunter has been hurt by the teeth and claws of a wounded leopard.
有时它会被一枪毙命,但如果它只是受了伤,它会反扑过来。很多猎人都曾被受伤的美洲豹伤过。
The leopard is as fond of chickens as the fox; and, like him, he prowls about the henroost at night. In the morning the farmer will know that he has had a visit from the leopard, when he finds, as he sometimes does, that all his fowls are gone.
和狐狸一样,美洲豹也喜欢吃鸡,也会在夜晚到鸡舍偷鸡。早晨农民会发现鸡舍前一晚被美洲豹光顾过,但当人们发现时,家禽早已没有了踪影。
The leopard has often been tamed, and in a tame state he is very playful. The cubs of the leopard are pretty, graceful creatures, and sport about with each other like so many kittens.
美洲豹也常会很驯服。被驯服的美洲豹很喜爱嬉戏。小美洲豹豹很漂亮,很优雅,它们之间会像小猫一样互相玩耍。
To what tribe of animals does the leopard belong? Where is it found? What is its skin covered with? What is it called in India? Why? What does a leopard do when he is hunted? What, when driven out of the jungle? How is he killed then? Why do the hunters need to be careful? Of what does he often rob the farmer?
美洲豹属于什么种属动物?分布在哪些地区?美洲豹皮肤上有什么?在印度人们将其称为什么?为什么?被猎人追捕时美洲豹会怎么做?什么东西什么时候能将其赶出丛林?猎人们如何猎杀美洲豹?为什么猎杀美洲豹时要小心?美洲豹经常从农户家偷什么?