Captain Guy was a gentleman of great urbanity of manner, and of considerable experience in the southern traffic, to which he had devoted8 a great portion of his life. He was deficient9, however, in energy, and, consequently, in that spirit of enterprise which is here so absolutely requisite10. He was part owner of the vessel in which he sailed, and was invested with discretionary powers to cruise in the South Seas for any cargo11 which might come most readily to hand. He had on board, as usual in such voyages, beads12, looking-glasses, tinder-works, axes, hatchets13, saws, adzes, planes, chisels14, gouges15, gimlets, files, spokeshaves, rasps, hammers, nails, knives, scissors, razors, needles, thread, crockery-ware, calico, trinkets, and other similar articles.
The schooner sailed from Liverpool on the tenth of July, crossed the Tropic of Cancer on the twenty-fifth, in longitude16 twenty degrees west, and reached Sal, one of the Cape17 Verd islands, on the twenty-ninth, where she took in salt and other necessaries for the voyage. On the third of August, she left the Cape Verds and steered18 southwest, stretching over toward the coast of Brazil, so as to cross the equator between the meridians19 of twenty-eight and thirty degrees west longitude. This is the course usually taken by vessels20 bound from Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, or by that route to the East Indies. By proceeding21 thus they avoid the calms and strong contrary currents which continually prevail on the coast of Guinea, while, in the end, it is found to be the shortest track, as westerly winds are never wanting afterward22 by which to reach the Cape. It was Captain Guy’s intention to make his first stoppage at Kerguelen’s Land — I hardly know for what reason. On the day we were picked up the schooner was off Cape St. Roque, in longitude thirty-one degrees west; so that, when found, we had drifted probably, from north to south, not less than five-and-twenty degrees!
On board the Jane Guy we were treated with all the kindness our distressed23 situation demanded. In about a fortnight, during which time we continued steering24 to the southeast, with gentle breezes and fine weather, both Peters and myself recovered entirely25 from the effects of our late privation and dreadful sufferings, and we began to remember what had passed rather as a frightful26 dream from which we had been happily awakened27, than as events which had taken place in sober and naked reality. I have since found that this species of partial oblivion is usually brought about by sudden transition, whether from joy to sorrow or from sorrow to joy — the degree of forgetfulness being proportioned to the degree of difference in the exchange. Thus, in my own case, I now feel it impossible to realize the full extent of the misery28 which I endured during the days spent upon the hulk. The incidents are remembered, but not the feelings which the incidents elicited30 at the time of their occurrence. I only know, that when they did occur, I then thought human nature could sustain nothing more of agony.
We continued our voyage for some weeks without any incidents of greater moment than the occasional meeting with whaling-ships, and more frequently with the black or right whale, so called in contradistinction to the spermaceti. These, however, were chiefly found south of the twenty-fifth parallel. On the sixteenth of September, being in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope, the schooner encountered her first gale31 of any violence since leaving Liverpool. In this neighborhood, but more frequently to the south and east of the promontory32 (we were to the westward33), navigators have often to contend with storms from the northward34, which rage with great fury. They always bring with them a heavy sea, and one of their most dangerous features is the instantaneous chopping round of the wind, an occurrence almost certain to take place during the greatest force of the gale. A perfect hurricane will be blowing at one moment from the northward or northeast, and in the next not a breath of wind will be felt in that direction, while from the southwest it will come out all at once with a violence almost inconceivable. A bright spot to the southward is the sure forerunner35 of the change, and vessels are thus enabled to take the proper precautions.
It was about six in the morning when the blow came on with a white squall, and, as usual, from the northward. By eight it had increased very much, and brought down upon us one of the most tremendous seas I had then ever beheld36. Every thing had been made as snug37 as possible, but the schooner laboured excessively, and gave evidence of her bad qualities as a seaboat, pitching her forecastle under at every plunge38 and with the greatest difficulty struggling up from one wave before she was buried in another. just before sunset the bright spot for which we had been on the look-out made its appearance in the southwest, and in an hour afterward we perceived the little headsail we carried flapping listlessly against the mast. In two minutes more, in spite of every preparation, we were hurled39 on our beam-ends, as if by magic, and a perfect wilderness40 of foam41 made a clear breach42 over us as we lay. The blow from the southwest, however, luckily proved to be nothing more than a squall, and we had the good fortune to right the vessel without the loss of a spar. A heavy cross sea gave us great trouble for a few hours after this, but toward morning we found ourselves in nearly as good condition as before the gale. Captain Guy considered that he had made an escape little less than miraculous43.
On the thirteenth of October we came in sight of Prince Edward’s Island, in latitude44 46 degrees 53’ S., longitude 37 degrees 46’ E. Two days afterward we found ourselves near Possession Island, and presently passed the islands of Crozet, in latitude 42 degrees 59’ S., longitude 48 degrees E. On the eighteenth we made Kerguelen’s or Desolation Island, in the Southern Indian Ocean, and came to anchor in Christmas Harbour, having four fathoms45 of water.
This island, or rather group of islands, bears southeast from the Cape of Good Hope, and is distant therefrom nearly eight hundred leagues. It was first discovered in 1772, by the Baron46 de Kergulen, or Kerguelen, a Frenchman, who, thinking the land to form a portion of an extensive southern continent carried home information to that effect, which produced much excitement at the time. The government, taking the matter up, sent the baron back in the following year for the purpose of giving his new discovery a critical examination, when the mistake was discovered. In 1777, Captain Cook fell in with the same group, and gave to the principal one the name of Desolation Island, a title which it certainly well deserves. Upon approaching the land, however, the navigator might be induced to suppose otherwise, as the sides of most of the hills, from September to March, are clothed with very brilliant verdure. This deceitful appearance is caused by a small plant resembling saxifrage, which is abundant, growing in large patches on a species of crumbling47 moss48. Besides this plant there is scarcely a sign of vegetation on the island, if we except some coarse rank grass near the harbor, some lichen49, and a shrub50 which bears resemblance to a cabbage shooting into seed, and which has a bitter and acrid51 taste.
The face of the country is hilly, although none of the hills can be called lofty. Their tops are perpetually covered with snow. There are several harbors, of which Christmas Harbour is the most convenient. It is the first to be met with on the northeast side of the island after passing Cape Francois, which forms the northern shore, and, by its peculiar shape, serves to distinguish the harbour. Its projecting point terminates in a high rock, through which is a large hole, forming a natural arch. The entrance is in latitude 48 degrees 40’ S., longitude 69 degrees 6’ E. Passing in here, good anchorage may be found under the shelter of several small islands, which form a sufficient protection from all easterly winds. Proceeding on eastwardly52 from this anchorage you come to Wasp53 Bay, at the head of the harbour. This is a small basin, completely landlocked, into which you can go with four fathoms, and find anchorage in from ten to three, hard clay bottom. A ship might lie here with her best bower54 ahead all the year round without risk. To the westward, at the head of Wasp Bay, is a small stream of excellent water, easily procured56.
Some seal of the fur and hair species are still to be found on Kerguelen’s Island, and sea elephants abound57. The feathered tribes are discovered in great numbers. Penguins59 are very plenty, and of these there are four different kinds. The royal penguin58, so called from its size and beautiful plumage, is the largest. The upper part of the body is usually gray, sometimes of a lilac tint60; the under portion of the purest white imaginable. The head is of a glossy61 and most brilliant black, the feet also. The chief beauty of plumage, however, consists in two broad stripes of a gold color, which pass along from the head to the breast. The bill is long, and either pink or bright scarlet62. These birds walk erect63; with a stately carriage. They carry their heads high with their wings drooping64 like two arms, and, as their tails project from their body in a line with the legs, the resemblance to a human figure is very striking, and would be apt to deceive the spectator at a casual glance or in the gloom of the evening. The royal penguins which we met with on Kerguelen’s Land were rather larger than a goose. The other kinds are the macaroni, the jackass, and the rookery penguin. These are much smaller, less beautiful in plumage, and different in other respects.
Besides the penguin many other birds are here to be found, among which may be mentioned sea-hens, blue peterels, teal, ducks, Port Egmont hens, shags, Cape pigeons, the nelly, sea swallows, terns, sea gulls65, Mother Carey’s chickens, Mother Carey’s geese, or the great peterel, and, lastly, the albatross.
The great peterel is as large as the common albatross, and is carnivorous. It is frequently called the break-bones, or osprey peterel. They are not at all shy, and, when properly cooked, are palatable68 food. In flying they sometimes sail very close to the surface of the water, with the wings expanded, without appearing to move them in the least degree, or make any exertion69 with them whatever.
The albatross is one of the largest and fiercest of the South Sea birds. It is of the gull66 species, and takes its prey67 on the wing, never coming on land except for the purpose of breeding. Between this bird and the penguin the most singular friendship exists. Their nests are constructed with great uniformity upon a plan concerted between the two species — that of the albatross being placed in the centre of a little square formed by the nests of four penguins. Navigators have agreed in calling an assemblage of such encampments a rookery. These rookeries have been often described, but as my readers may not all have seen these descriptions, and as I shall have occasion hereafter to speak of the penguin and albatross, it will not be amiss to say something here of their mode of building and living.
When the season for incubation arrives, the birds assemble in vast numbers, and for some days appear to be deliberating upon the proper course to be pursued. At length they proceed to action. A level piece of ground is selected, of suitable extent, usually comprising three or four acres, and situated70 as near the sea as possible, being still beyond its reach. The spot is chosen with reference to its evenness of surface, and that is preferred which is the least encumbered71 with stones. This matter being arranged, the birds proceed, with one accord, and actuated apparently72 by one mind, to trace out, with mathematical accuracy, either a square or other parallelogram, as may best suit the nature of the ground, and of just sufficient size to accommodate easily all the birds assembled, and no more — in this particular seeming determined73 upon preventing the access of future stragglers who have not participated in the labor74 of the encampment. One side of the place thus marked out runs parallel with the water’s edge, and is left open for ingress or egress75.
Having defined the limits of the rookery, the colony now begin to clear it of every species of rubbish, picking up stone by stone, and carrying them outside of the lines, and close by them, so as to form a wall on the three inland sides. Just within this wall a perfectly76 level and smooth walk is formed, from six to eight feet wide, and extending around the encampment — thus serving the purpose of a general promenade77.
The next process is to partition out the whole area into small squares exactly equal in size. This is done by forming narrow paths, very smooth, and crossing each other at right angles throughout the entire extent of the rookery. At each intersection78 of these paths the nest of an albatross is constructed, and a penguin’s nest in the centre of each square — thus every penguin is surrounded by four albatrosses, and each albatross by a like number of penguins. The penguin’s nest consists of a hole in the earth, very shallow, being only just of sufficient depth to keep her single egg from rolling. The albatross is somewhat less simple in her arrangements, erecting79 a hillock about a foot high and two in diameter. This is made of earth, seaweed, and shells. On its summit she builds her nest.
The birds take especial care never to leave their nests unoccupied for an instant during the period of incubation, or, indeed, until the young progeny80 are sufficiently81 strong to take care of themselves. While the male is absent at sea in search of food, the female remains82 on duty, and it is only upon the return of her partner that she ventures abroad. The eggs are never left uncovered at all — while one bird leaves the nest the other nestling in by its side. This precaution is rendered necessary by the thieving propensities83 prevalent in the rookery, the inhabitants making no scruple84 to purloin85 each other’s eggs at every good opportunity.
Although there are some rookeries in which the penguin and albatross are the sole population, yet in most of them a variety of oceanic birds are to be met with, enjoying all the privileges of citizenship86, and scattering87 their nests here and there, wherever they can find room, never interfering88, however, with the stations of the larger species. The appearance of such encampments, when seen from a distance, is exceedingly singular. The whole atmosphere just above the settlement is darkened with the immense number of the albatross (mingled with the smaller tribes) which are continually hovering89 over it, either going to the ocean or returning home. At the same time a crowd of penguins are to be observed, some passing to and fro in the narrow alleys90, and some marching with the military strut91 so peculiar to them, around the general promenade ground which encircles the rookery. In short, survey it as we will, nothing can be more astonishing than the spirit of reflection evinced by these feathered beings, and nothing surely can be better calculated to elicit29 reflection in every well-regulated human intellect.
On the morning after our arrival in Christmas Harbour the chief mate, Mr. Patterson, took the boats, and (although it was somewhat early in the season) went in search of seal, leaving the captain and a young relation of his on a point of barren land to the westward, they having some business, whose nature I could not ascertain92, to transact93 in the interior of the island. Captain Guy took with him a bottle, in which was a sealed letter, and made his way from the point on which he was set on shore toward one of the highest peaks in the place. It is probable that his design was to leave the letter on that height for some vessel which he expected to come after him. As soon as we lost sight of him we proceeded (Peters and myself being in the mate’s boat) on our cruise around the coast, looking for seal. In this business we were occupied about three weeks, examining with great care every nook and corner, not only of Kerguelen’s Land, but of the several small islands in the vicinity. Our labours, however, were not crowned with any important success. We saw a great many fur seal, but they were exceedingly shy, and with the greatest exertions94, we could only procure55 three hundred and fifty skins in all. Sea elephants were abundant, especially on the western coast of the mainland, but of these we killed only twenty, and this with great difficulty. On the smaller islands we discovered a good many of the hair seal, but did not molest95 them. We returned to the schooner: on the eleventh, where we found Captain Guy and his nephew, who gave a very bad account of the interior, representing it as one of the most dreary96 and utterly97 barren countries in the world. They had remained two nights on the island, owing to some misunderstanding, on the part of the second mate, in regard to the sending a jollyboat from the schooner to take them off.
点击收听单词发音
1 schooner | |
n.纵帆船 | |
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2 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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3 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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4 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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5 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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6 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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7 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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8 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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9 deficient | |
adj.不足的,不充份的,有缺陷的 | |
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10 requisite | |
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品 | |
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11 cargo | |
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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12 beads | |
n.(空心)小珠子( bead的名词复数 );水珠;珠子项链 | |
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13 hatchets | |
n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 );恶毒攻击;诽谤;休战 | |
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14 chisels | |
n.凿子,錾子( chisel的名词复数 );口凿 | |
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15 gouges | |
n.凿( gouge的名词复数 );乱要价;(在…中)抠出…;挖出…v.凿( gouge的第三人称单数 );乱要价;(在…中)抠出…;挖出… | |
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16 longitude | |
n.经线,经度 | |
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17 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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18 steered | |
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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19 meridians | |
n.子午圈( meridian的名词复数 );子午线;顶点;(权力,成就等的)全盛时期 | |
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20 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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21 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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22 afterward | |
adv.后来;以后 | |
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23 distressed | |
痛苦的 | |
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24 steering | |
n.操舵装置 | |
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25 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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26 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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27 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
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28 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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29 elicit | |
v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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30 elicited | |
引出,探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
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32 promontory | |
n.海角;岬 | |
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33 westward | |
n.西方,西部;adj.西方的,向西的;adv.向西 | |
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34 northward | |
adv.向北;n.北方的地区 | |
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35 forerunner | |
n.前身,先驱(者),预兆,祖先 | |
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36 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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37 snug | |
adj.温暖舒适的,合身的,安全的;v.使整洁干净,舒适地依靠,紧贴;n.(英)酒吧里的私房 | |
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38 plunge | |
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲 | |
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39 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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40 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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41 foam | |
v./n.泡沫,起泡沫 | |
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42 breach | |
n.违反,不履行;破裂;vt.冲破,攻破 | |
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43 miraculous | |
adj.像奇迹一样的,不可思议的 | |
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44 latitude | |
n.纬度,行动或言论的自由(范围),(pl.)地区 | |
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45 fathoms | |
英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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46 baron | |
n.男爵;(商业界等)巨头,大王 | |
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47 crumbling | |
adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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48 moss | |
n.苔,藓,地衣 | |
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49 lichen | |
n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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50 shrub | |
n.灌木,灌木丛 | |
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51 acrid | |
adj.辛辣的,尖刻的,刻薄的 | |
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52 eastwardly | |
向东,从东方 | |
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53 wasp | |
n.黄蜂,蚂蜂 | |
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54 bower | |
n.凉亭,树荫下凉快之处;闺房;v.荫蔽 | |
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55 procure | |
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
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56 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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57 abound | |
vi.大量存在;(in,with)充满,富于 | |
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58 penguin | |
n.企鹅 | |
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59 penguins | |
n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 ) | |
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60 tint | |
n.淡色,浅色;染发剂;vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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61 glossy | |
adj.平滑的;有光泽的 | |
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62 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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63 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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64 drooping | |
adj. 下垂的,无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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65 gulls | |
n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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66 gull | |
n.鸥;受骗的人;v.欺诈 | |
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67 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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68 palatable | |
adj.可口的,美味的;惬意的 | |
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69 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
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70 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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71 encumbered | |
v.妨碍,阻碍,拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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73 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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74 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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75 egress | |
n.出去;出口 | |
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76 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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77 promenade | |
n./v.散步 | |
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78 intersection | |
n.交集,十字路口,交叉点;[计算机] 交集 | |
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79 erecting | |
v.使直立,竖起( erect的现在分词 );建立 | |
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80 progeny | |
n.后代,子孙;结果 | |
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81 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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82 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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83 propensities | |
n.倾向,习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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84 scruple | |
n./v.顾忌,迟疑 | |
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85 purloin | |
v.偷窃 | |
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86 citizenship | |
n.市民权,公民权,国民的义务(身份) | |
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87 scattering | |
n.[物]散射;散乱,分散;在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的;分散在不同范围的;广泛扩散的;(选票)数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式);散布;驱散 | |
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88 interfering | |
adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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89 hovering | |
鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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90 alleys | |
胡同,小巷( alley的名词复数 ); 小径 | |
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91 strut | |
v.肿胀,鼓起;大摇大摆地走;炫耀;支撑;撑开;n.高视阔步;支柱,撑杆 | |
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92 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
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93 transact | |
v.处理;做交易;谈判 | |
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94 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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95 molest | |
vt.骚扰,干扰,调戏 | |
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96 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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97 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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