The glottis protrudes10 a tongue of remarkable11 length, from which circumstance it derives12 its name: at first it is quite 202 pleased with the journey, and sets out with the greatest ardor13; but very soon, when it begins to feel the fatigues14 of the flight, it is overtaken by regret, while at the same time it is equally as loth to return alone, as to accompany the others. Its travels never last more than a single day, for at the very first resting-place they come to, it deserts: here, too, it finds other birds, which have been left behind in a similar manner in the preceding year. The same takes place with other birds day after day. The cychramus is much more persevering15, and is in such a hurry to arrive at the land which is its destination, that it arouses the quails16 in the night, and reminds them that they ought to be on the road.
The otus is a smaller bird than the horned owl17, though larger than the owlet; it has feathers projecting like ears, which gives it its name. Some persons call it in the Latin language the “asio;” in general it is a bird fond of mimicking18, a great parasite19, and, in some measure, a dancer as well. Like the owlet, it is taken without any difficulty: for while one person occupies its attention, another goes behind, and catches it.
If the wind, by its contrary blasts, should begin to prevent the onward20 progress of the flight, the birds immediately take up small stones, or else fill their throats with sand, and so contrive21 to ballast themselves as they fly. The seeds of a certain venomous plant[175] are most highly esteemed22 by the quails as food; for which reason they have been banished23 from our tables; and a great repugnance24 is manifested to eating their flesh, on account of the epilepsy, to which alone of all animals, with the exception of man, the quail is subject.

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1
defer
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vt.推迟,拖延;vi.(to)遵从,听从,服从 | |
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2
quail
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n.鹌鹑;vi.畏惧,颤抖 | |
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3
mariners
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海员,水手(mariner的复数形式) | |
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4
vessel
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n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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5
tract
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n.传单,小册子,大片(土地或森林) | |
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6
extorted
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v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 );曲解 | |
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7
fatigue
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n.疲劳,劳累 | |
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8
hawk
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n.鹰,骗子;鹰派成员 | |
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9
persuasions
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n.劝说,说服(力)( persuasion的名词复数 );信仰 | |
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10
protrudes
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v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的第三人称单数 ) | |
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11
remarkable
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adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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12
derives
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v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取 | |
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13
ardor
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n.热情,狂热 | |
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14
fatigues
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n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 );杂役;厌倦;(士兵穿的)工作服 | |
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15
persevering
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a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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16
quails
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鹌鹑( quail的名词复数 ); 鹌鹑肉 | |
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17
owl
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n.猫头鹰,枭 | |
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18
mimicking
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v.(尤指为了逗乐而)模仿( mimic的现在分词 );酷似 | |
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19
parasite
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n.寄生虫;寄生菌;食客 | |
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20
onward
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adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
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21
contrive
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vt.谋划,策划;设法做到;设计,想出 | |
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22
esteemed
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adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 );敬重;认为;以为 | |
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23
banished
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v.放逐,驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
repugnance
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n.嫌恶 | |
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