WITH FURTHER EXAMPLES OF GOOD FATHERS
“Prais’d be the fathomless1 universe,
For life and joy, and for objects and knowledge curious.”
Walt Whitman.
Two things I have been anxious to bring out prominently in the foregoing chapters: that parental2 behaviour among the insects, reptiles3 and fishes presents us with a bewildering diversity of aspects—in particular, that the instinct of caring for the young is not fixed4 in the mother, but may be transferred from her to the father; and further, that all parental sacrifice, though often unconsciously expended5 to maintain the well-being6 of the family, is of direct benefit to the parent who bestows7 it, and is the surest means of developing and brightening such a parent’s individual intelligence.
Now, I wish to elaborate and establish these two propositions with further examples in order that they may be laid hold of and firmly grasped as indubitable facts; and then we may come to see and understand the significance to ourselves of these unusually devoted8 fathers, which are found, and that not infrequently, among all classes of pre-human parents.
The varied9 behaviour of bird-parents—more especially of the males—furnishes just the kind of evidence we need. There are several cases known, and I believe there must[100] be others as yet unrecorded, wherein the conduct and, indeed, the whole character of the two sexes is reversed. Here the females, driven it would seem by a fierce sex-hunger, do the courting and fight one another as rivals for the males, while the males undertake all the family duties of incubation and brooding and the feeding of the young.
The phalaropes, both the grey and the red-necked species, which are found in Scotland and Ireland, afford a striking example of these unsexed females. Among these birds the r?le of the sexes is reversed. The duties of incubation and rearing the young are conducted entirely11 by the male, and in correlation12 with this habit, the female does all the courting. She is stronger and more pugnacious13 than the male, and is also brighter in plumage. This is really very remarkable14. What has acted in bringing about this reversal in the secondary sexual characters? Can the male nature be transferred to the female? These are difficult questions. In colour the phalaropes are a pale olive very thickly spotted15 and streaked16 with black. The male is the psychical17 mother, the female takes no notice of the nest after laying the eggs. Frequently at the beginning of the breeding season she is accompanied by more than one male, so that it is evident polyandry is practised.[30]
The same unusual family conditions prevail with the rhea and the emu, and also among the painted snipes, cassowaries, tinamous, and some of the button-quails.[31] There are probably instances of other birds, but I do not know of details of their habits; Wallace[32] also mentions several[101] species in different parts of the world, among whom all care of the young falls entirely upon the father. In all these bird families exactly opposite conditions prevail to what we are accustomed. It should be specially10 noted19 that these unnatural20 (I use the word simply to mean unusual) mothers are larger and more vividly21 coloured than the hard-worked fathers; in all such cases polyandry is practised.
Why is this?
The only attempt at an explanation that I have been able to discover is given by Mr. Pycraft in his fascinating book, The Courtship of Animals. He says—[33]
“The solution of this problem probably lies with the physiologist22. We now know that the problem of sex does not rest merely in the complete development of the primary sexual organs; we know that fertile unions do not depend merely on the act of pairing, but on the functional23 activity of the ancillary24 glands25. And it may well be that some change in the character of the secretions27 has not only affected28 the numerical values of the sexes, but reversed the normal r?le of coloration and behaviour.”
Mr. Pycraft does not consider that the polyandrous habits of these birds are due primarily to a preponderance of the females in the species over the males, but holds that this condition must rather be regarded as having arisen from a transference to the females, or development in them, of increased sexual hunger, which intensity29 of passion would tend to lead to an exhaustion30 of the males. This is exceedingly interesting. Mr. Pycraft continues—
“Neither polygamy nor polyandry among the lower animals, at any rate, has been brought about or is maintained by the excessive death rate due to combats for the possession of mates, but must[102] be explained as demonstrating inherent changes in the germ-plasm, disturbing the relative proportions of the sexes and correlated with a profound transformation31, not only in the behaviour of the sexes during the period of reproductive activity, but also in their physical characteristics.”
If I understand this aright, the conclusion seems forced upon us that parental conduct is directly dependent on the action of the sexual appetite: that it may be modified, and in some cases profoundly changed, by any variation in this appetite’s strength and expression. This is of profound interest, and such a view, if established, might explain a great deal.[34] But can it be accepted? To say that such changes are due to the action of the “hormones,” or secretions of the sexual glands, does not help us very much. What we want to know is what induces the changes. There is much that cannot yet be explained. If I may venture to speculate on so difficult a question, it would seem that when the intensity of sex-hunger becomes for any reason stronger in the females than in the males, the result may be a diminishing of the instincts of motherhood. It is as if the egotistic desires of sex were in opposition32 to the racial duties. This would explain the female phalaropes, whose maternal33 instincts are completely atrophied34. Does it not suggest also a possible explanation of some failures in human motherhood? This opens up questions that reach very far. I am tempted35 to wait to enlarge on the immense significance of these unnatural bird-mothers in the analogy their conduct bears to one of the most difficult cases of human motherhood—the strongly sexual woman who bears children but is quite unfit and without any desire to rear them. I shall have more to say in the later part of[103] my inquiry36 about such women, who are driven by passion to be mothers without having any instinct for motherhood.
But now a return must be made to the birds’ nurseries. It is a matter of common knowledge that birds display a marvellous solicitude37 for the welfare of the young, and their family life presents a beautiful and high standard of conduct.[35] There are very few examples of birds who are bad fathers. Often the male rivals the female in love for the young; he is in constant attendance in the vicinity of the nest; he guards, feeds, and sings to the female, and often shares with her the duty of incubation. The cock ostrich38, for example, watches by night over the hole in which the eggs have been buried, and the hen takes this duty by day. The screamer birds, again, work in shifts of two or three hours each. When they bred in the London Zoological Gardens, it was noticed that the cock-bird acted as timekeeper, and at the end of a watch used to come and push the female off the nest.[36] These examples are delightful39. It would seem almost that the males, when infected with paternal40 passion, were more ardent41 and regular in the performance of nursery duties than the mother.
Among many birds it is usual for all family work to be performed quite irrespective of sex, and the parent who is free takes the task of feeding the one who is occupied with the nest.[37] The male hornbill is a family despot; during[104] the breeding season he walls up his spouse42 within the trunk of a tree. He feeds her with great care, but he allows her no liberty. As soon as one family is reared many birds at once burden themselves with another. The Californian quail18 affords an example. In this species the father takes sole charge of the family as soon as the young birds attain43 the age of three weeks, when the mother begins the labours of rearing a second brood. More curious are the habits of the water hen, among whom the young of the first family assist in the work of feeding their brothers and sisters of the later broods.[38]
The labour of feeding the young family is a heavy task in which both parents commonly share. There are no cases of unsuitable feeding of nestlings by careless or ignorant parents. A regular course of nursery dietary is practised, in particular with nidicolous species, where the young are born in a helpless condition; often a special infant food is prepared by a process of regurgitation, or food partly digested and thrown up. Thus baby finches are fed on food made of digested insects; parent parrots also prepare a digested vegetable food; storks44 break up worms and frogs and pieces of little fishes and mix it with partly digested matter and throw it out on the edge of the nest for the family meals. Young pigeons thrust their beaks45 into the mouths of their mothers to absorb the so-called pigeon’s-milk, which is really digested food mixed with a secretion26 from the crop; little cormorants47 thrust their bills right down the neck of their mother and help themselves to food out of her stomach. The petrels secrete48 oil from the fish they eat to feed the young: this oil is used also as a weapon of defence both by the parents and the nestlings,[105] who squirt it out from their mouths and nostrils49 at any unwelcome intruder on the privacy of the nest.[39]
When the young are fed entirely on insects the work entailed50 on the parents is enormous. A pair of blue tit-mice, for example, have been seen to make no less than four hundred and seventy-five journeys to the nest during a day’s foraging52 extending over seventeen hours. Again, the male of the common dabchick works untiringly, and has been seen to take as many as forty journeys, with food, in the space of an hour, back to the nest, where his wife waits with the children, which commonly perch53 on her back and are protected by her wings. Small wonder is there that the labours of both parents are needed to keep the young families from starvation. In some cases a practical division of work is arranged; and the father will bring a different kind of food from the mother. With the stow-chat, for instance, the mother brings small prey54, generally spiders, but sometimes butterflies and moths55, while the father selects and carries large caterpillars56. Even where the young are precocious57, fairly active at birth, and soon able to feed themselves, one or both parents for a considerable time guard, teach and protect them. Great bravery and intelligence are displayed in the face of any danger, not only will many parent-birds savagely58 attack an enemy, but in some cases, as, for instance, the plover59 or the partridge, the mother will feign60 to have a broken limb or to be lame61, to draw off from the young the attention of the intruder. No parental duty is neglected. Daily lessons are frequently given to the nurslings on the right kind of food and the best way of feeding. Thus young birds of prey are instructed, first in the art of breaking up their food, and later[106] in the best methods of its capture. Young swallows, again, receive a carefully graduated course of lessons on the difficult work of catching63 the insects which form their food, while they are flying. The parents of the woodcock carry their children to the feeding ground, to and from the nest, supporting the precious little ones with their beaks, and pressed close within their feet, which are used as maternal arms.[40]
A delightful incident was witnessed during the feeding-time of a red-backed shrike—[41]
“The male had brought to the nest a young bird, and, pulling off its head, proceeded to ram64 it down the throat of a very unfortunate youngster. But the morsel65 was too big, and had to be readjusted, not once, but many times; and finally it was forced home with such success that the wretched bird was in imminent66 danger from choking. At this the female, who had been sitting on the opposite side of the nest, making, apparently67, very sarcastic68 comments on the awkwardness of her lord, and males in general, suddenly seized the offending head and, dragging it forth70, proceeded to tear it into small pieces, giving each of the brood a piece. And during this time the male looked on in what appeared to be a very subdued71 fashion.”
Almost all birds take great trouble to ensure the sanitation72 of the nursery, and are diligent73 in their care of the health of the young. All the excrements are removed from the nest, a task that is rendered easy, as the droppings of the young are enclosed in a white, film-like envelope or capsule. A most careful search is made at the bottom of the nest for these capsules by the parents whenever they come to feed the young. Do they fail to find the expected capsules,[107] one or other of the parents after the feeding will tap, tap on the anus of the young birds as if to remind them of a duty neglected.[42] This is, perhaps, the most extraordinary example of parental care that I have been able to discover. One wonders how far this apparent recognition of the necessity of regular habits and cleanliness is instinctive74, or how far we may grant to these parents some direct realisation of the dangers arising to their children from neglect and a dirty nursery.
It must not, however, be thought that all birds are good parents. In some species there would seem to have been a revolt against family ties and the duty of caring for the young. The common cuckoo and some other cuckoos are well-known examples. Among them, the mother, as every one knows, always lays the eggs in the nest of some other birds, and the young cuckoo, when it is hatched, would seem to have some knowledge of its precarious75 position as a stranger. It creeps under the nestlings of its foster-parents, and, by a violent effort, raises them one by one on its hollow back and jerks them out of the nest, so securing undivided attention in its alien nursery. A similar parasitic76 habit, not yet so firmly established, is found among the cow-birds of the Argentine. Mr. W. H. Hudson has seen the mothers trying to build nests and failing to do this, as if they were struggling to regain77 a dying instinct. The females flutter about the mud-nests of the oven-birds, and whenever a chance presents itself will dart78 in and lay their eggs. Other cow-birds make no effort at all in nest-building, and always lay their eggs in the occupied nests of other birds, and, as their eggs develop very[108] quickly, the intruders hatch out before the true children of the nursery and rob them of their parents’ care.
What do we learn from this? That neglect on the part of the mother—any shuffling79 out of her duties, thereby80 placing the care of her children on the shoulders of other parents, leads to crime and disorder81 in the social organisation82.
Some birds are content with very little care for home-building ready for their eggs. Birds belonging to many different species make nurseries in hollow trees, caves, burrows83 or natural cavities, sometimes lining84 them with leaves and feathers to make them soft, but sometimes even neglecting this care. The New Zealand kakapo or ground parrot, to take one instance, hides in any hole it finds and lays its eggs there without any preparation; the kingfisher, again, digs out a hole in the ground, or occupies one that it finds. Emus scrape a shallow hole in the ground and do not cover the eggs. The cassowary scrapes together a rude pile of leaves and mould on which she lays the eggs. Some of the megapodes or bush turkeys bury their eggs in the sand, and then take no further trouble about them, leaving incubation to the chance warmth of the sun. Others build enormous heaps of decaying leaves, forming a hot-bed from natural fermentation, by which the chicks are hatched out with no trouble to the parents. The young of the megapodes are the only living birds that are hatched out able to fly at once and ready to take care of themselves. It would appear that neglectful parents foster self-development in the children.[43]
Where the mother broods alone over the eggs it sometimes happens that the father-bird takes no interest in the[109] family. The polygamous gallinaceous birds appear to be without, or to have lost, the paternal instinct. Peacocks, pheasants, turkey-cocks, and barn-door cocks do practically nothing for their families, and while the mother-birds’ care in feeding and guarding the young is untiring, the fathers are running after amorous86 adventures. The conduct of the male turkey is even worse, for, prompted by jealousy87, he will often attempt to devour88 the eggs, and the young are protected from his attacks only by the mothers uniting together in troops. Here we see the exact opposite conduct in the two sexes from that in such a family as the sticklebacks, where good fathers replace bad mothers. But the same result follows. In either case the neglect of parental duty by one or other parent is a source of weakness to the family and increases the risks to which the young are exposed.[44]
I must insist on how strongly conduct is affected by the conditions of the home; and any change of habits will directly modify parental behaviour. Thus an animal habitually89 domestic may easily change under the pressure of external causes. Thus wild ducks, though good parents and strictly90 monogamous, and very highly developed in social qualities when in the wild state, become indifferent to their offspring and loosely polygamous under domestication91.[45] Civilisation92, in this case, depraves the birds as often it does men. But the examples of bad parents among birds are few in number.
I will end this chapter by relating, with as much detail[110] as is possible, the curious family history of the Adélie penguins94;[46] as these birds have developed some interesting and startling experiments in nursery care and parenthood. The penguins live in large social colonies. It should be noted first that the death rate among the young birds is enormously high, as happens invariably where the single family is replaced by great breeding colonies.
Yet the penguins are self-sacrificing parents. Year by year in the month of October they return to the same breeding-ground, having travelled many hundreds of difficult miles, and urged by a mysterious nostalgia95 that their children may be born in the same home. The first duty is to take possession of one of the old stone nests, or to scoop96 out a new hollow in the ground. Here the hens sit by the future home, and wait for proposals from the cocks. The advance is made by what appears to be a symbolic97 action and the cock places a stone at the hen’s feet. But often the hen answers never a word. Bloody98 duels99 are fought between rival suitors to arouse her passion and prove the vigour100 of her mate.
Both birds work at the home-making, repairing an old nest or forming a new one, which is made of rounded stones. The cock collects these, and it is interesting to note what would seem to be an ?sthetic taste in these bird-builders; certain painted pebbles101, provided by the explorers for the use of the birds, were in great demand, the colour red being preferred to green.
[111]
During the first days of wedded102 life the conflicts between the cocks continue, and the chosen cock maintains his rights by driving off all interlopers; but later, when the pair settle down to the serious duties of the family, they live in peace and are perfectly103 faithful to each other. Not until the eggs have been laid does either parent go to feed; the shortest period of total abstinence from food being about eighteen days and the longest about twenty-eight days—a fine example of parental sacrifice. Then one of the birds marches off to the water for a holiday, which may last from seven to ten days, after which it comes back to give the other bird its turn. When the young penguins are hatched the parents share in the work of feeding and guarding them, and relieve each other at frequent intervals104. The bird who goes to feed always returns heavily burdened with provisions, and its always quaint105 shape becomes grotesque106, when so laden107 with crustaceans108 that it has to lean backwards109 to keep its balance. Sometimes a bird will try to carry too much, with the result that it tumbles over and loses the entire load. The young chicks feed in the same way as the young cormorants, by thrusting their heads into the parent’s gullet.
Though both birds work together and with the same zeal85, it must be noted that the mother’s guard over the young is more strict than is that of the father. When the mother is sitting, nothing, not even a wrangle110 with her next-door neighbour, will induce her to move from her post. Whatever happens, there she stays until her turn for relaxation111 comes. But the cocks are more easily led astray. Their combativeness112 causes them to forget family affairs. Often much harm is done by these quarrels in the crowded rookery, which occur frequently and in spite of the protests[112] of anxious neighbouring parents, who are seen trying to make peace.
The most curious habit of these delightful birds has still to be recorded. They have developed a taste for games, such as leaping, diving and boarding the ice-floes. These amusements are indulged in by the adults, who band themselves in large companies, and play occupies much of their time. To gain the necessary freedom for this fun from their homes, and without leaving the chicks to perish, a most instructive device has been evolved by the penguin93 parents. The birds with young families “pool their offspring” in groups, which are left in charge of a few conscientious113 birds, both cocks and hens, who act as nurses; they ward69 off the attacks of the sukas, and keep, or try to keep, the chicks from wandering. The holidaying parents bring food at intervals—when their consciences smite114 them—and they remain faithful to their own crêches.
This is, I think, the earliest example of what must be regarded as a premeditated experiment in co-operative child-rearing. For the parents it doubtless has many advantages. These remarkable birds certainly appear to find a quite unusual joy in life: we read of the ecstatic attitudes they will frequently assume and the weird115 “chant de satisfaction” which they utter during play when all is well with their world. Yet the fact, already noted, must not be overlooked that the death rate in the rookery is enormously high; indeed, a frightful116 mortality often overtakes the young chicks when left by their parents. The children pay for the escape on the part of the parents from the sacrifice parenthood must entail51.
I have a further case to record of a different experiment in co-operative parenthood, in this case necessitated[113] through the severities of the struggle of life. In the same antarctic regions where the Adélie penguins make their home there dwells another penguin, the great emperor penguin. This bird has a sad history; never, during the whole course of its life, does it touch dry land; the vast ice-fields form its only home, and it has to brave the perils117 of the open water in its search for food. Under such circumstances the struggle for life is severe, and the parent-birds have the greatest difficulty to rear the young. In these ice-nurseries, incubation in the usual manner in a nest is impossible; a new and curious method is adopted. Each mother lays but a single egg, which is placed for warmth and safety in a “brood-spot” situated118 at the back of the feet, where it is covered by the overlapping119 feathers of the abdomen120. Even this care is not rewarded always, and many of the eggs perish.
Owing to the difficult incubation, a large percentage of brooding birds are left without eggs and young. And the curious thing is that this loss seems to increase the desire for offspring, until the parental instinct becomes a tormenting121 passion. This is what happens. Each childless bird strives to adopt a child from the more fortunate parents; and this leads to a competition in parenthood, which of its kind is without parallel.
Not only the duty of incubation, but afterwards caring for the young chicks, is carried out not by one bird only, but by a dozen or more, which stand patiently round for a chance to seize either a chicken or an egg. Nor is it, as might be expected, the mothers alone who are seized by the passion of thwarted122 maternity123; the fathers help their childless wives in their efforts to steal offspring. Every bird, male as well as female, has developed the “brood-spot,” and[114] has the same bare patch of skin at the lower part of the abdomen against which the egg, when possessed124, is pressed for warmth.
“What we actually saw, again and again,” states Dr. Wilson, “was the wild dash made by a dozen adults, each weighing anything up to ninety pounds, to take possession of any chicken that happened to find itself deserted125 on the ice. It can be compared to nothing better than a football scrimmage, in which the first bird to seize the chicken is hustled126 and worried on all sides by the others while it rapidly tries to push the infant between its legs with the help of its pointed127 beak46, shrugging up the loose skin of the abdomen the while to cover it.… The chicks are fully62 alive to the inconvenience of being fought for by so many clumsy nurses, and I have seen them not only make the best use of their legs in avoiding so much attention, but remain to starve and freeze in preference to being nursed. Undoubtedly128, I think that of the 77 per cent. that die before they shed their down, quite half are killed by kindness.”
It is from such an example as this that we may come to realise the extraordinary power of parent-hunger. Consider these penguin mothers and fathers clamouring and fighting for the possession of a child. With them the parental instinct has gained fierce strength from being thwarted. Is there not here yet another lesson for us to learn?
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
fathomless
|
|
| a.深不可测的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
parental
|
|
| adj.父母的；父的；母的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
reptiles
|
|
| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
expended
|
|
| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
well-being
|
|
| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
bestows
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
specially
|
|
| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
correlation
|
|
| n.相互关系，相关，关连 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
pugnacious
|
|
| adj.好斗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
streaked
|
|
| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
psychical
|
|
| adj.有关特异功能现象的；有关特异功能官能的；灵魂的；心灵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
quail
|
|
| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
vividly
|
|
| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
physiologist
|
|
| n.生理学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
functional
|
|
| adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
ancillary
|
|
| adj.附属的，从属的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
glands
|
|
| n.腺( gland的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
secretion
|
|
| n.分泌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
secretions
|
|
| n.分泌（物）( secretion的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
intensity
|
|
| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
exhaustion
|
|
| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
transformation
|
|
| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
opposition
|
|
| n.反对，敌对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
maternal
|
|
| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
atrophied
|
|
| adj.萎缩的，衰退的v.（使）萎缩，（使）虚脱，（使）衰退( atrophy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
solicitude
|
|
| n.焦虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
ostrich
|
|
| n.鸵鸟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
paternal
|
|
| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
spouse
|
|
| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
storks
|
|
| n.鹳( stork的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
beaks
|
|
| n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
beak
|
|
| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
cormorants
|
|
| 鸬鹚，贪婪的人( cormorant的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
secrete
|
|
| vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
nostrils
|
|
| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
entailed
|
|
| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
entail
|
|
| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
foraging
|
|
| v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的现在分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
perch
|
|
| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
moths
|
|
| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
caterpillars
|
|
| n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
precocious
|
|
| adj.早熟的；较早显出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
plover
|
|
| n.珩，珩科鸟，千鸟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
feign
|
|
| vt.假装，佯作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
ram
|
|
| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
imminent
|
|
| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
sarcastic
|
|
| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
sanitation
|
|
| n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
diligent
|
|
| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
instinctive
|
|
| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
precarious
|
|
| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
parasitic
|
|
| adj.寄生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
dart
|
|
| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
shuffling
|
|
| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
organisation
|
|
| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
burrows
|
|
| n.地洞( burrow的名词复数 )v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的第三人称单数 )；翻寻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
lining
|
|
| n.衬里，衬料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
amorous
|
|
| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
devour
|
|
| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
habitually
|
|
| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
domestication
|
|
| n.驯养，驯化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
civilisation
|
|
| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
penguin
|
|
| n.企鹅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
penguins
|
|
| n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
nostalgia
|
|
| n.怀乡病，留恋过去，怀旧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
scoop
|
|
| n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
symbolic
|
|
| adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
duels
|
|
| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
vigour
|
|
| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
pebbles
|
|
| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
wedded
|
|
| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
grotesque
|
|
| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
crustaceans
|
|
| n.甲壳纲动物（如蟹、龙虾）( crustacean的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
backwards
|
|
| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
wrangle
|
|
| vi.争吵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
relaxation
|
|
| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
combativeness
|
|
| n.好战 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
conscientious
|
|
| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
smite
|
|
| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
perils
|
|
| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
situated
|
|
| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
overlapping
|
|
| adj./n.交迭（的） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
abdomen
|
|
| n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
tormenting
|
|
| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
thwarted
|
|
| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
maternity
|
|
| n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
hustled
|
|
| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |