2007-11-29, Flying Devils - 空中的“魔鬼”

Here they are! Striated¹ Caracaras, doing what they do best--scavenging. This is exactly the type of scene the National Geographic² crew expected to catch on camera when they went to the frigid³ Falkland Islands. What they didn’t expect? Well, the birds are better known by another name--Johnny Rooks. Which is one of those old-time phrases for thieves, pillagers, and mischief-makers.

These birds are also good at destroying things like, well, camp sites for instance. Besides simple vandalism, stealing food is a specialty⁴. And once the rumour⁵ gets out that a free meal is available, the Johnny Rooks help themselves a feast.

This thievery isn’t for a personal enrichment, this is havoc⁶ for the heck of it. And for that purpose, it doesn’t get any better than messing with toilet paper. So why was the crew here in the first place? To capture Johnny Rooks as they revealed their very own generation gap, actually more like a chasm⁷. An adult Johnny Rook wades⁸ into a bunch of adolescents to take control of a rockhopper penguin⁹ carcass and teach these young punks a thing or two about who is in charge here. This adult looks like he’s gonna kick some tail feathers. And he does a thorough convincing job of it. After this thrashing, the adult discovers the young Johnny Rooks still don’t appear to realize who rules this roost. OK, his mate joins the fray¹⁰. Together they show they mean business. This is a mean nasty take-no-prisoners battle. The adults win and celebrate with their raucous¹¹ victory woo, and then enjoy the spoils of victory. The young Johnny Rooks get a one-way ticket to Palucvail. This is a harsh desolate¹² island. And finding food here is no easy task. They scour¹³ the coastline for anything edible¹⁴. One thing is certain, a penguin dinner with the folks is not in their future.

1 striated   

adj.有纵线，条纹的

参考例句：

• The striated and polished surfaces are called slicken-sides.有条痕的磨光面则称为擦痕面。
• There are striated engravings on this wall.这面墙上有着条纹状的雕饰。

2 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。

4 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

5 rumour   

n.谣言，谣传，传闻

参考例句：

• I should like to know who put that rumour about.我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
• There has been a rumour mill on him for years.几年来，一直有谣言产生，对他进行中伤。

6 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

7 chasm   

n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突

参考例句：

• There's a chasm between rich and poor in that society.那社会中存在着贫富差距。
• A huge chasm gaped before them.他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。

8 wades   

（从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A lumi wields a golden morningstar with trained ease as it wades into melee. 光民熟练地挥舞钉头锤加入战团。

9 penguin   

n.企鹅

参考例句：

• The penguin is a flightless bird.企鹅是一种不会飞的鸟。
• He walked with an awkward gait like a penguin.他走路的步子难看得就像企鹅。

10 fray   

v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗

参考例句：

• Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢？
• Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。

11 raucous   

adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的

参考例句：

• I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
• They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。

12 desolate   

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

• The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
• We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。

13 scour   

v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷

参考例句：

• Mother made me scour the family silver.母亲让我擦洗家里的银器。
• We scoured the telephone directory for clues.我们仔细查阅电话簿以寻找线索。

14 edible   

n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的

参考例句：

• Edible wild herbs kept us from dying of starvation.我们靠着野菜才没被饿死。
• This kind of mushroom is edible,but that kind is not.这种蘑菇吃得，那种吃不得。