纪录片《南太平洋》 第139期 奇异岛屿（15）

Tibbles proved to be a very efficient specimen¹ collector.

蒂伯斯是一个非常有 能力的标本收集者

So much so, in fact, that one year later,

以至于实际上一年后

when the bird was officially declared a new species,

这鸟被正式宣布为新品种

Mr Lyall had to regretfully inform the scientific community at large

莱奥先生不得不懊悔地告诉科学界

that the species was now extinct. In truth, Tibbles wasn't the only feline² to blame,

这个品种现在已灭绝了。事实上，蒂伯斯不是唯一被指责的猫科动物

but the ease with which the Stephens Island wren³ had been dispatched was alarming.

但是斯蒂芬岛鹪鹩的迅速消亡给人们敲响了警钟

The cats were removed from Stephens Island, but it was too late for the wren.

猫被移出了斯蒂芬岛 但对于鹪鹩来说已经太晚了

Now only known from a few cat-chewed museum specimens⁴,

现在只能从被猫咬过的博物馆 标本上了解鹪鹩了

evolving to be flightless had proven fatal. So it seems there is a trade-off.

进化成无法飞行被证明是致命的。这似乎是场交换

The freedom of island life allows a species to relax its guard,

岛屿生活的自由让一个 物种放松了它的警惕

but that can leave it defenceless.

留下的只是毫无防御

On the main islands of New Zealand, similar dramas have played out time and time again.

在新西兰主岛上，类似的剧本周而复始得在上演

Forests dominated by giant kauri trees once covered the North Island.

曾经覆盖岛屿北部的巨大 南洋杉主宰着森林

The fragments that remain look much like they have for millennia⁵, but looks can be deceiving.

残存的树木看上去好像存在了数千年，但表象是可能假的

A few centuries ago, this forest echoed with the calls of strange and wonderful birds.

几百年前，这里的森林响彻奇异又绝妙的鸟叫

Most famous was the giant moa,

最有名的是大恐鸟

which looked a bit like an ostrich⁶, but taller than an elephant.

看上去有点像驼鸟，但比大象要高

And there are many more birds whose haunting songs now exist here only in memory.

这里更多的萦绕于心的鸟鸣如今只存在记忆中

1 specimen   

n.样本，标本

参考例句：

• You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
• This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。

2 feline   

adj.猫科的

参考例句：

• As a result,humans have learned to respect feline independence.结果是人们已经学会尊重猫的独立性。
• The awakening was almost feline in its stealthiness.这种醒觉，简直和猫的脚步一样地轻悄。

3 wren   

n.鹪鹩；英国皇家海军女子服务队成员

参考例句：

• A wren is a kind of short-winged songbird.鹪鹩是一种短翼的鸣禽。
• My bird guide confirmed that a Carolina wren had discovered the thickets near my house.我掌握的鸟类知识使我确信，一只卡罗莱纳州鹪鹩已经发现了我家的这个灌木丛。

4 specimens   

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

• Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
• The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 millennia   

n.一千年，千禧年

参考例句：

• For two millennia, exogamy was a major transgression for Jews. 两千年来，异族通婚一直是犹太人的一大禁忌。
• In the course of millennia, the dinosaurs died out. 在几千年的时间里，恐龙逐渐死绝了。

6 ostrich   

n.鸵鸟

参考例句：

• Ostrich is the fastest animal on two legs.驼鸟是双腿跑得最快的动物。
• The ostrich indeed inhabits continents.鸵鸟确实是生活在大陆上的。