英国学生科学读本 第87期:蚯蚓(2)

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　　If we move a finger along the worm from the head to the tail, the body feels quite smooth; 用一根手指从蚯蚓的头部摸向其尾部, 就会感觉它的身体非常光滑；

　　but if we gently rub the worm the other way—from the tail to the head—we can easily feel the stiff bristles. 然而, 如果我们换个方向来抚摸蚯蚓（从尾部到头部）, 就很容易感觉到它身上的坚硬刚毛。

　　The earth-worm's body is very elastic³. 蚯蚓的身体非常灵活。

　　It pushes its head forward in the direction in which it wants to go; 如果它想朝某个方向前进, 就会将头部指向那里,

　　it then sticks into the soil the bristles which are near the head, and pulls forward the rest of its body. 然后把头部附近的刚毛插入土壤中向前推动身体。

　　The body of the earth-worm is covered with slime , which helps it to burrow⁴ in the ground, 蚯蚓的身体外包裹着粘液, 这样可以帮助它在泥土中钻行,

　　for its wet slimy body passes easily through the soft earth. 因为黏滑、湿润的身体能够轻松地在柔软的泥土中穿梭。

　　A great many worms live in the soil of every field and garden. 每一片田野与花园的土壤中都生活着许多蚯蚓。

　　If you wish to see how many worms there are, 如果你想看看多到什么程度,

　　you should go out into your garden or to a grassy⁵ lawn on a warm, damp evening after dark, and take a lantern with you. 就应该挑选一个温暖、潮湿的夜晚, 打着灯笼走到花园或者茂盛的草丛中。

　　Then you will see perhaps hundreds of worms, each keeping just the end of its tail in its hole or burrow, 然后你大概就能看到数百条蚯蚓, 尾巴都在洞中,

　　and moving its head and body about in search of water and food.  头部与身体却在到处移动, 寻找水与食物。

　　You must step very softly; for if the earthworms hear you coming, 你必须要轻轻落下脚步, 因为它们一旦发现你靠近的话

　　they will quickly pull themselves back into their holes with a sudden start, as if their bodies were elastic bands. 就会立刻缩回到洞中, 像弹簧一般迅速。

　　Worms are eaten by birds when they come to the top of the ground, and they are chased and eaten by moles⁶ when they burrow under it. 当蚯蚓爬到地面上的时候, 鸟儿就会捕食它们；当它们蜷缩在土壤中的时候, 鼹鼠又会对它们展开搜捕。

　　It was said of a good man that he "would not hurt a worm. " 善良的人“连虫子都不忍心伤害”。

　　I hope that no child who reads this book will ever wantonly injure these harmless and very useful little creatures. 我希望读到这本书的孩子们, 都不会故意去伤害这种没有害处却又十分有用的小生灵。

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