255.Therehaslongbeenasuperstitionamongmariners
长期以来,海员中流传着一种迷信的说法,
256.thatporpoiseswillsavedrowningmenbypushingthemtothesurface,
认为海豚会把快要淹死的人托到水面,救人性命;
257.orprotectthemfromsharksbysurroundingthemindefensiveformation.
或在人们周围列队保护,使他们免遭鲨鱼伤害。
258.MarineStudiobiologistshavepointedoutthat,
海洋摄影室的生物学家指出,
259.howeverintelligenttheymaybe,
无论海豚多么聪明,
260.itisprobablyamistaketocreditdolphinswithanymotiveoflifesaving.
认为它们有救人的动机可能是错误的。
261.Ontheoccasionswhentheyhavepushedtoshoreanunconscioushumanbeing
当它们偶尔把一个失去知觉的人推到岸边时,
262.theyhavemuchmorelikelydoneitoutofcuriosityorforsport,
更大的可能是出于好奇或游戏,
263.asinridingthebowwavesofaship.
就像它们追逐被船首犁开的浪花一样。
264.In1928someporpoiseswerephotographerworkinglikebeaverstopushashoreawaterloggedmattress.
1928年,有人拍摄到了海豚像海狸一样把浸透水的床垫推上岸的情景。
265.If,ashasbeenreported,theyhaveprotectedhumansfromsharks,
正如报道中所说,如果海豚保护人不受鲨鱼侵害,
266.itmayhavebeenbecausecuriosityattractedthemandbecausethescentofapossiblemealattractedthesharks.
那么它们可能是出于好奇;而鲨鱼可能是闻到了可以美食一顿的香味。
267.Porpoisesandsharksarenaturalenemies.
海豚和鲨鱼是天然仇敌,
268.Itispossiblethatuponsuchanoccasionabattleensued,
双方可能随之发生搏斗,
269.withthesharksbeingdrivenawayorkilled.
搏斗结果是海豚赶走或咬死鲨鱼。
270.Whetheritbebird,fishorbeast,theporpoiseisintriguedwithanythingthatisalive.
海豚对凡是活的东西都感兴趣,不管是鸟、是鱼,还是野兽。
271.Theyareconstantlyaftertheturtles,
它们经常追逐海龟,
272.whopeacefullysubmittoallsortsofindignities.
海龟则温顺地忍受着各种侮辱。
273.Oneyoungcalfespeciallyenjoyedraisingaturtletothesurfacewithhissnout
一只小海豚特别喜欢用鼻子把海龟推到水面,
274.andthenshovinghimacrossthetanklikeanaquaplane.
然后像滑水板一样把海龟从水池的这一边推到那一边。
275.Almostanydayayoungporpoisemaybeseentryingtoturna300-poundseaturtleoverbystickinghissnoutundertheedgeofhisshellandpushingupfordearlife.
几乎每天都可以看到一只小海豚把鼻子顶入一只300磅重的海龟的硬壳下面,拼命地把它翻过来。
276.Thisisnoteasy,andmayrequiretwoporpoisesworkingtogether.
这并非易事,可能需要两只海豚合伙干才行。
277.Inanothergame,astheturtleswimsacrosstheoceanarium,
在另一场游戏中,当海龟游过水族馆时,
278.thefirstporpoiseswoopsdownfromaboveandbuttshisshellwithhisbelly.
第一只海豚从上方猛扑下去,用腹部撞击龟壳。
279.Thisknockstheturtledownseveralfeet.
这一下子把海龟撞下去好几英尺。
280.Henosoonerrecovershisequilibriumthanthenextporpoisecomesalongandhitshimanothercrack.
海龟刚恢复平衡,第二只海豚又冲过来猛击一下。
281.Eventuallytheturtlehasbeenbuttedallthewaydowntothefloorofthetank.
这只海龟最终被撞到池底。
282.Heisnowsatisfiedmerelytotrytostandup,
此时的海龟,只要能站起来就满足了,
283.butassoonashedoessoaporpoiseknockshimflat.
但它刚站起来,就被一只海豚击倒。
284.Theturtleatlastgivesupbypullinghisfeetunderhisshellandthegameisover.