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CHAPTER XIII. BIRDS WHICH TAKE THEIR DEPARTURE FROM US IN WINTER.

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 In a similar manner also, the blackbird, the thrush, and the starling take their departure to neighboring countries; but they do not lose their feathers, nor conceal1 themselves, as they are often to be seen in places where they seek their food during the winter: hence it is that in winter, more especially, the thrush is so often to be seen in Germany. It is, however, a well-ascertained2 fact, that the turtle-dove conceals3 itself, and loses its feathers. The ring-dove, also, takes its departure, yet it is a matter of doubt whither they go. A peculiarity4 of the starling is to fly in troops, as it were, and then to wheel round in a globular mass like a ball, the central troop acting5 as a pivot6 for the rest. Swallows are the only birds that have a sinuous7 flight of remarkable8 velocity9; so that they are not exposed to the attacks of other birds of prey10: these are the only birds that take their food solely11 on the wing.
 
The time during which birds show themselves differs very considerably12. Some, like the pigeon, remain with us all the year round, some for six months, such as the swallow; and some again, for three months only, as the thrush, the turtledove, and those which take their departure the moment they have reared their young, like the witwall and the hoopoe.

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1 conceal DpYzt     
v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽
参考例句：
  • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
  • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
2 ascertained e6de5c3a87917771a9555db9cf4de019     
v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 conceals fa59c6f4c4bde9a732332b174939af02     
v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
  • He conceals his worries behind a mask of nonchalance. 他装作若无其事，借以掩饰内心的不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Drunkenness reveals what soberness conceals. 酒醉吐真言。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 peculiarity GiWyp     
n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖
参考例句：
  • Each country has its own peculiarity.每个国家都有自己的独特之处。
  • The peculiarity of this shop is its day and nigth service.这家商店的特点是昼夜服务。
5 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的
参考例句：
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。
6 pivot E2rz6     
v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的
参考例句：
  • She is the central pivot of creation and represents the feminine aspect in all things.她是创造的中心枢轴，表现出万物的女性面貌。
  • If a spring is present,the hand wheel will pivot on the spring.如果有弹簧，手轮的枢轴会装在弹簧上。
7 sinuous vExz4     
adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的
参考例句：
  • The river wound its sinuous way across the plain.这条河蜿蜒曲折地流过平原。
  • We moved along the sinuous gravel walks,with the great concourse of girls and boys.我们沿着曲折的石径,随着男孩女孩汇成的巨流一路走去。
8 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。
9 velocity rLYzx     
n.速度，速率
参考例句：
  • Einstein's theory links energy with mass and velocity of light.爱因斯坦的理论把能量同质量和光速联系起来。
  • The velocity of light is about 300000 kilometres per second.光速约为每秒300000公里。
10 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。
11 solely FwGwe     
adv.仅仅，唯一地
参考例句：
  • Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
  • The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。
12 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上
参考例句：
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
13 poultry GPQxh     
n.家禽，禽肉
参考例句：
  • There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
  • What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?
14 locusts 0fe5a4959a3a774517196dcd411abf1e     
n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树
参考例句：
  • a swarm of locusts 一大群蝗虫
  • In no time the locusts came down and started eating everything. 很快蝗虫就飞落下来开始吃东西，什么都吃。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 ravaging e90f8f750b2498433008f5dea0a1890a     
毁坏( ravage的现在分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫
参考例句：
  • It is believed that in fatigue there is a repeated process of ravaging the material. 据认为，在疲劳中，有一个使材料毁坏的重复过程。
  • I was able to capture the lion that was ravaging through town. 我能逮住正在城里肆虐的那头狮子。
16 invoke G4sxB     
v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求
参考例句：
  • Let us invoke the blessings of peace.让我们祈求和平之福。
  • I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永远不会使用这个条款向你们索赔。
17 pestilence YlGzsG     
n.瘟疫
参考例句：
  • They were crazed by the famine and pestilence of that bitter winter.他们因那年严冬的饥饿与瘟疫而折磨得发狂。
  • A pestilence was raging in that area. 瘟疫正在那一地区流行。
18 propitiatory HRQx9     
adj.劝解的；抚慰的；谋求好感的；哄人息怒的
参考例句：
  • She saw the flowers as a propitiatory offering. 在她看来，送花是主动和解的表示。
  • He sent her flowers as a propitiatory gesture. 他将花送给她以求好感。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
19 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的
参考例句：
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
20 shrubs b480276f8eea44e011d42320b17c3619     
灌木( shrub的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The gardener spent a complete morning in trimming those two shrubs. 园丁花了整个上午的时间修剪那两处灌木林。
  • These shrubs will need more light to produce flowering shoots. 这些灌木需要更多的光照才能抽出开花的新枝。
21 storks fd6b10fa14413b1c399913253982de9b     
n.鹳( stork的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Meg and Jo fed their mother like dutiful young storks. 麦格和裘像一对忠实的小鹳似地喂她们的母亲。 来自辞典例句
  • They believe that storks bring new babies to the parents' home. 他们相信白鹤会给父母带来婴儿。 来自互联网
22 magpies c4dd28bd67cb2da8dafd330afe2524c5     
喜鹊（magpie的复数形式）
参考例句：
  • They set forth chattering like magpies. 他们叽叽喳喳地出发了。
  • James: besides, we can take some pied magpies home, for BBQ. 此外，我们还可以打些喜鹊回家，用来烧烤。
23 propensity mtIyk     
n.倾向；习性
参考例句：
  • He has a propensity for drinking too much alcohol.他有酗酒的倾向。
  • She hasn't reckoned on his propensity for violence.她不曾料到他有暴力倾向。
24 rape PAQzh     
n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸
参考例句：
  • The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
  • He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。
25 consecrated consecrated     
adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献
参考例句：
  • The church was consecrated in 1853. 这座教堂于1853年祝圣。
  • They consecrated a temple to their god. 他们把庙奉献给神。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 prudent M0Yzg     
adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的
参考例句：
  • A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
  • You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。
27 omens 4fe4cb32de8b61bd4b8036d574e4f48a     
n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The omens for the game are still not propitious. 这场比赛仍不被看好。 来自辞典例句
  • Such omens betide no good. 这种征兆预示情况不妙。 来自辞典例句
28 chatters 3e10eddd42ff8f8d32ae97ce9fcb298a     
（人）喋喋不休( chatter的第三人称单数 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤
参考例句：
  • The dabbler in knowledge chatters away; the wise man stays silent. 一瓶子不响，半瓶子晃荡。
  • An improperly adjusted tool chatters. 未调好的工具震颤作响。
29 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。

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