纪录片《我们的地球》 第315期 极端沙漠(6)

The spines¹ that cover almost every plant in this desert

这片沙漠上的植物几乎都浑身是刺，

can provide protection and shelter for many animals.

它们能为动物提供了庇护之所。

So, why should these spikes² be hung with corpses³?

可这些尖刺上为什么挂着尸体？

What kind of creature could be responsible for creating such a gruesome scene?

如此可怕的场景究竟是谁的手笔呢？

There's a mysterious killer⁴ at work in this desert.

这片沙漠里有一位神秘杀手。

It's a butcherbird.

一只伯劳鸟。

This little songbird uses the spines as a butcher uses his hook to hold its prey⁵ as it dismembers it.

就像屠夫用钩子挂肉，这只小型鸣禽利用这些刺将肢解完的食物悬挂起来.

And with chicks to feed, he also uses the spines as a larder⁶.

幼鸟们嗷嗷待哺，叶刺就像是食品储藏柜.

He's been stocking it for weeks.

他已经储备了好几个星期.

Hanging his prey out of the reach of scavengers on the ground

把猎物挂起来可以防止地面的食腐动物来争抢，

ensures that his newly hatched young will never go hungry.

以确保刚出生的幼鸟不会挨饿。

An ingenious solution to making the good times last in the desert... if a little macabre⁷.

为了让好时光持续更久点，这的确是个巧妙的策略，虽然有点毛骨悚然。

1 spines   

n.脊柱( spine的名词复数 )；脊椎；（动植物的）刺；书脊

参考例句：

• Porcupines use their spines to protect themselves. 豪猪用身上的刺毛来自卫。
• The cactus has spines. 仙人掌有刺。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 spikes   

n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划

参考例句：

• a row of iron spikes on a wall 墙头的一排尖铁
• There is a row of spikes on top of the prison wall to prevent the prisoners escaping. 监狱墙头装有一排尖钉，以防犯人逃跑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 corpses   

n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The living soldiers put corpses together and burned them. 活着的战士把尸体放在一起烧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Overhead, grayish-white clouds covered the sky, piling up heavily like decaying corpses. 天上罩满了灰白的薄云，同腐烂的尸体似的沉沉的盖在那里。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

4 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

5 prey   

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。

6 larder   

n.食物贮藏室，食品橱

参考例句：

• Please put the food into the larder.请将您地食物放进食物柜内。
• They promised never to raid the larder again.他们答应不再随便开食橱拿东西吃了。

7 macabre   

adj.骇人的，可怖的

参考例句：

• He takes a macabre interest in graveyards.他那么留意墓地，令人毛骨悚然。
• Mr Dahl was well-known for his macabre adult stories called 'Tales of the Unexpected'.达尔先生以成人恐怖小说集《意料之外的故事》闻名于世。