Lesson 18

Porpoises

There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface, or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation.
长期以来，水手们一直有一种迷信，认为海豚会通过将溺水者推向水面来拯救他们，或者通过以防御阵型包围他们来保护他们免受鲨鱼伤害。
however intelligent they may be, it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of lifesaving.
无论海豚可能有多聪明，将任何救生动机归功于它们可能都是一个错误。
On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport, as in riding the bow waves of a ship.
当他们把一个无意识的人推向岸边时，他们更有可能是出于好奇或为了娱乐，就像乘着船的船首波一样。
In 1928 some porpoises were photographed working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress.
1928年，有人拍到一些海豚像海狸一样努力将一张浸水的床垫推上岸。
If, as has been reported, they have protected humans from sharks, it may have been because curiosity attracted them and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks.
如果正如所报道的那样，他们保护了人类免受鲨鱼伤害，这可能是因为好奇心吸引了它们，并且因为可能食物的气味吸引了鲨鱼。
Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies.
鼠海豚和鲨鱼是天敌。
It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed.
有可能在这样的场合发生了一场战斗，鲨鱼被驱赶或杀死。
Whether it be bird, fish or beast, the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive.
无论它是鸟、鱼还是野兽，海豚对任何有生命的东西都感到好奇。
They are constantly after the turtles, who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities.
他们一直在追逐那些平静地屈服于各种侮辱的海龟。
One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane.
一只小牛特别喜欢用鼻子把一只海龟抬到水面，然后像水上飞机一样推着它穿过水箱。
Almost any day a young porpoise may be seen trying to turn a 300-pound sea turtle over by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell and pushing up for dear life.
几乎每天都能看到一只年轻的海豚试图通过将鼻子伸进300磅重海龟的壳下并拼命向上推，来将其翻转过来。
This is not easy, and may require two porpoises working together.
这并不容易，并且可能需要两只海豚一起工作。
In another game, as the turtle swims across the oceanarium, the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly.
在另一场游戏中，当海龟游过海洋馆时，第一只海豚从上方俯冲而下，并用腹部撞击它的壳。
This knocks the turtle down several feet.
这把那只乌龟击倒了几英尺。
He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack.
他刚恢复平衡，下一只海豚就游过来又撞了他一下。
Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank.
最终，这只海龟被一路撞击到了水箱底部。
He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up, but as soon as he does so a porpoise knocks him flat.
他现在仅仅满足于尝试站起来，但当他这样做时，一只海豚立刻将他撞倒在地。
The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over.
这只乌龟最终通过将脚缩进壳里而放弃了，游戏结束了。