时差N小时 动物会数数?(下)

Their finding?

结果如何呢？

The coots that couldn't tell when a stranger's egg had been stuck into their nest laid that many fewer of their own–sneak¹ one in, the coot lays one fewer.

不能认出陌生蛋骨顶巢里的蛋越来越多，而自己的蛋越来越少。

Sneak two in, the coot lays two fewer.

如果多出两个陌生蛋，它们就会少生两个蛋。

Coots that successfully spotted² intruders knocked them out again and then laid the same number they normally would.

而那些认出闯入者的鸟则会将其赶走，然后产下通常相同数量的蛋。

If the number of eggs laid were independent of how many the coot sees in its nest, coots that allow a stranger's egg should wind up with one egg extra.

如果产蛋数量与巢里蛋的数量是独立的，那么骨顶就会算上陌生蛋，不再生蛋。

But they don't.

可是他们它们不会。

Lyon argues that, along with egg recognition, the coots must therefore be doing some version of I see I have nine eggs here-time to stop laying now.

里昂认为，骨顶是具有识别蛋的能力，它们可能在想已经有了九个蛋，可以停了。

And that means coots count.

那就意味着它们能数数。

Other researchers aren't convinced.

其他研究人员并不相信这一理论。

But though the debate goes on, the case for animal counting just got stronger…by the weight of one coot.

虽然争论还在继续，但权因骨顶，动物会数数的事例越来越多。

1 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

2 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。