These birds have held the first rank in auguries5, in Latium, since the time of the king who has given them their name.[171] One of the presages6 that was given by them, I cannot pass over in silence. A woodpecker came and lighted upon the head of ?lius Tubero, the City pr?tor, when sitting on his tribunal dispensing7 justice in the Forum8, and showed such tameness as to allow itself to be taken with the hand; upon which the augurs9 declared that if it was let go, the state was 194 menaced with danger, but if killed, disaster would befall the pr?tor; in an instant he tore the bird to pieces, and before long the omen4 was fulfilled.[172]
Many birds of this kind feed also on acorns10 and fruit, but only those which are not carnivorous, with the exception of the kite; though when it feeds on anything but flesh, it is a bird of ill omen.
The birds which have hooked talons are never gregarious11; each one seeks its prey12 by itself. They nearly all of them soar to a great height, with the exception of the birds of the night, and more especially those of larger size. They all have large wings, and a small body; they walk with difficulty, and rarely settle upon stones, being prevented from doing so by the curved shape of their talons.

点击
收听单词发音

1
talons
![]() |
|
n.(尤指猛禽的)爪( talon的名词复数 );(如爪般的)手指;爪状物;锁簧尖状突出部 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
auspices
![]() |
|
n.资助,赞助 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
upwards
![]() |
|
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
omen
![]() |
|
n.征兆,预兆;vt.预示 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
auguries
![]() |
|
n.(古罗马)占卜术,占卜仪式( augury的名词复数 );预兆 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
presages
![]() |
|
v.预示,预兆( presage的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
dispensing
![]() |
|
v.分配( dispense的现在分词 );施与;配(药) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
forum
![]() |
|
n.论坛,讨论会 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
augurs
![]() |
|
n.(古罗马的)占兆官( augur的名词复数 );占卜师,预言者v.预示,预兆,预言( augur的第三人称单数 );成为预兆;占卜 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10
acorns
![]() |
|
n.橡子,栎实( acorn的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11
gregarious
![]() |
|
adj.群居的,喜好群居的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12
prey
![]() |
|
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |