纪录片《南太平洋》 第135期 奇异岛屿（11）

The very first bat evolved from a mouse-like mammal many millions of years ago.

数百万年前最初的蝙蝠是从类似老鼠的哺乳动物演化而来

Here on New Zealand, it seems evolution has gone into reverse¹.

在新西兰这里，似乎演化被推翻了

And if New Zealand's bats have turned to mice, what on earth has happened to the birds?

即使新西兰蝙蝠是从老鼠转化而来，地上的鸟发生了什么？

In these forests lives a bird that is about as un-bird-like as it is possible for a bird to be.

在这些森林里生活着一种既像鸟又不像鸟的鸟

It's nocturnal, though it sometimes wakes up before sunset.

它是夜间活动的 虽然有时也会在日落前活跃起来

It has whiskers so it can feel its way in the dark.

它有在黑暗中感知道路的腮须

It's a parrot, and weighing up to four kilos, it's the world's heaviest.

它是世上最重的鹦鹉 体重超过4公斤

And yes, you've guessed it - it can't fly. Meet the kakapo.

是的，你猜对了它不会飞。见识一下鸮鹉

Too heavy and short-winged to get airborne, it climbs trees instead.

要飞翅膀太短身体太重，只能改为爬树

Kakapo were once one of the most successful and abundant herbivores in New Zealand

鸮鹉昔日相当成功新西兰有大量的食草动物

the Kiwi equivalent² of our rabbit.

几维鸟就像我们的兔子

In 1899, explorer Charlie Douglas wrote,

1899年 探险家查理·道格拉斯写道

"They could be caught in the moonlight "by simply shaking the tree or bush

"在晚上只要简单地摇动树或灌木

"until they tumbled³ to the ground... like shaking down apples."

直到它们跌到地面...就像摇落苹果一样"

1 reverse   

v.推翻，颠倒，反向；n.反面，逆境；adj.反向的

参考例句：

• His answer was just the reverse of what I expected.他的回答正好与我期望的相反。
• Please reverse the positions of two pictures.请把两张图片的位置倒转过来。

2 equivalent   

adj.（to）相等的，等价的；n.相等物，等值物

参考例句：

• Nodding your head is equivalent to saying "yes".点头就等于说“赞同”。
• You will receive the full equivalent of your money.你将收到与你的款项价值完全同等的物品。

3 tumbled   

v.倒塌( tumble的过去式和过去分词 )；翻滚；突然摔倒；恍然大悟

参考例句：

• He slipped and tumbled down the stairs. 他脚一滑滚下了楼梯。
• A hundred and fifty empty bottles tumbled onto the floor. 150个空瓶子滚落到地板上。 来自《简明英汉词典》