The Tower Menagerie
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THE SECRETARY BIRD.

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Gypogeranus serpentarius. Illig.

The singular conformation of this bird, so different in many respects from that of the Order to which both in its leading characters and in its habits it obviously belongs, rendered it for a long time one of the torments1 of ornithologists, who puzzled themselves in vain to assign it a definitive2 place in the system, and could not agree even with regard to the grand division of the class to which it ought to be referred. Thus M. Temminck was at one time inclined to refer it to the Gallinaceous Order; and M. Vieillot, after repeatedly changing his mind upon the subject, at last arranged it among the Waders, with which it has absolutely nothing in common[210] except the length of its legs. It appears, however, to be now almost universally admitted that its closest affinity3 is with the Vultures, with which it agrees in the most essential particulars of its organization, and from which it differs chiefly in certain external characters alone, which unquestionably give to it an aspect exceedingly distinct, but are not of themselves of sufficient importance to authorize4 its removal to a distant part of the classification. It constitutes in fact one of those mixed and aberrant5 forms by means of which the arbitrary divisions of natural objects established by man are so frequently assimilated to each other in the most beautiful, and occasionally in the most unexpected, manner.

The principal generic6 characters of the Secretary consist in the form of his beak7, which is shorter than the head, thick, and curved nearly from the very base, where it is covered with a cere; in the long and unequal feathers which take their origin from the back of his head, and are susceptible8 of elevation
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1 torments 583b07d85b73539874dc32ae2ffa5f78     
（肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人]
参考例句：
  • He released me from my torments. 他解除了我的痛苦。
  • He suffered torments from his aching teeth. 他牙痛得难受。
2 definitive YxSxF     
adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的
参考例句：
  • This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
  • No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。
3 affinity affinity     
n.亲和力，密切关系
参考例句：
  • I felt a great affinity with the people of the Highlands.我被苏格兰高地人民深深地吸引。
  • It's important that you share an affinity with your husband.和丈夫有共同的爱好是十分重要的。
4 authorize CO1yV     
v.授权，委任；批准，认可
参考例句：
  • He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
  • Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。
5 aberrant 2V7zs     
adj.畸变的，异常的，脱离常轨的
参考例句：
  • His aberrant behavior at the party shocked everyone.他在晚会上的异常举止令所有人感到震惊！
  • I saw that the insects and spiders were displaying the same kind of aberrant behavior.我看到昆虫和蜘蛛正在表现出相同反常的行为。
6 generic mgixr     
adj.一般的，普通的，共有的
参考例句：
  • I usually buy generic clothes instead of name brands.我通常买普通的衣服，不买名牌。
  • The generic woman appears to have an extraordinary faculty for swallowing the individual.一般妇女在婚后似乎有特别突出的抑制个性的能力。
7 beak 8y1zGA     
n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻
参考例句：
  • The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
  • This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。
8 susceptible 4rrw7     
adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的
参考例句：
  • Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
  • We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。
9 elevation bqsxH     
n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高
参考例句：
  • The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
  • His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。
10 eyebrow vlOxk     
n.眉毛，眉
参考例句：
  • Her eyebrow is well penciled.她的眉毛画得很好。
  • With an eyebrow raised,he seemed divided between surprise and amusement.他一只眉毛扬了扬，似乎既感到吃惊，又觉有趣。
11 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的
参考例句：
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
12 talons 322566a2ccb8410b21604b31bc6569ac     
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：
  • The fingers were curved like talons, but they closed on empty air. 他的指头弯得像鹰爪一样，可是抓了个空。 来自英汉文学 - 热爱生命
  • The tiger has a pair of talons. 老虎有一对利爪。 来自辞典例句
13 upwards lj5wR     
adv.向上，在更高处...以上
参考例句：
  • The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
  • The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。
14 plumes 15625acbfa4517aa1374a6f1f44be446     
羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物
参考例句：
  • The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes. 那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色鸵鸟毛制作的头饰。
  • The plumes on her bonnet barely moved as she nodded. 她点点头，那帽子的羽毛在一个劲儿颤动。
15 crest raqyA     
n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖
参考例句：
  • The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
  • He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。
16 ornaments 2bf24c2bab75a8ff45e650a1e4388dec     
n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
  • The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
  • Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 destitute 4vOxu     
adj.缺乏的；穷困的
参考例句：
  • They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
  • They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。
18 barbs 56032de71c59b706e1ec6d4b8b651f33     
n.（箭头、鱼钩等的）倒钩( barb的名词复数 )；带刺的话；毕露的锋芒；钩状毛
参考例句：
  • She slung barbs at me. 她说了些讥刺我的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I would no longer uncomplainingly accept their barbs or allow their unaccountable power to go unchallenged. 我不会再毫无怨言地洗耳恭听他们带刺的话，或让他们的不负责任的权力不受到挑战。 来自辞典例句
19 projections 7275a1e8ba6325ecfc03ebb61a4b9192     
预测( projection的名词复数 )； 投影； 投掷； 突起物
参考例句：
  • Their sales projections are a total thumbsuck. 他们的销售量预测纯属估计。
  • The council has revised its projections of funding requirements upwards. 地方议会调高了对资金需求的预测。
20 prey g1czH     
n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨
参考例句：
  • Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
  • The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。
21 carrion gXFzu     
n.腐肉
参考例句：
  • A crow of bloodthirsty ants is attracted by the carrion.一群嗜血的蚂蚁被腐肉所吸引。
  • Vultures usually feed on carrion or roadkill.兀鹫通常以腐肉和公路上的死伤动物为食。
22 reptile xBiz7     
n.爬行动物；两栖动物
参考例句：
  • The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
  • So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以，你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。
23 reptiles 45053265723f59bd84cf4af2b15def8e     
n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Snakes and crocodiles are both reptiles. 蛇和鳄鱼都是爬行动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Birds, reptiles and insects come from eggs. 鸟类、爬虫及昆虫是卵生的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
24 rapacious hAzzh     
adj.贪婪的，强夺的
参考例句：
  • He had a rapacious appetite for bird's nest soup.他吃燕窝汤吃个没够。
  • Rapacious soldiers looted the houses in the defeated city.贪婪的士兵洗劫了被打败的城市。
25 destined Dunznz     
adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的
参考例句：
  • It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
  • The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。
26 inflict Ebnz7     
vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担
参考例句：
  • Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
  • Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。
27 prominences 61717b01d951d31c7cc96e7604858ac0     
n.织物中凸起的部分；声望( prominence的名词复数 )；突出；重要；要事
参考例句：
  • Prominences occur in a variety of forms. 日珥以各种形状出现。 来自辞典例句
  • Bony prominences are padded with cotton sheeting. 要在骨头突起处垫上大片棉花。 来自辞典例句
28 skull CETyO     
n.头骨；颅骨
参考例句：
  • The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
  • He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。
29 thickets bed30e7ce303e7462a732c3ca71b2a76     
n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物
参考例句：
  • Small trees became thinly scattered among less dense thickets. 小树稀稀朗朗地立在树林里。 来自辞典例句
  • The entire surface is covered with dense thickets. 所有的地面盖满了密密层层的灌木丛。 来自辞典例句
30 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地，充分地
参考例句：
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
31 cape ITEy6     
n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风
参考例句：
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
32 inmates 9f4380ba14152f3e12fbdf1595415606     
n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》
33 intrude Lakzv     
vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰
参考例句：
  • I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
  • I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。
34 authentic ZuZzs     
a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的
参考例句：
  • This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
  • Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。
35 brawls 8e504d56fe58f40de679f058c14d0107     
吵架，打架( brawl的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Whatever brawls disturb the street, there should be peace at home. 街上无论多么喧闹，家中应有宁静。
  • I got into brawls in the country saloons near my farm. 我在离我农场不远的乡下沙龙里和别人大吵大闹。

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