纪录片《我们的地球》 第139期 冰封世界(14)

Wild ass¹ are the most conspicuous² pioneers of this high frontier,

野驴是高原边疆上最明显的拓荒者，

but the most numerous grazer in Tibet lives underground.

但数量最为可观的食草动物却深藏在地下。

Pika, a relative of the rabbit. It, too, feeds on grass.

鼠兔，兔子的亲戚。和兔子一样以草为食。

On the exposed plateau, pikas never stray far from their burrows³.

在毫无遮挡的草原上，鼠兔从不敢远离自己的洞穴。

But even so, squatters will move in given half a chance.

可是尽管如此，鼠兔的洞穴还是经常被其它动物霸占。

While ground peckers and snow finches can be a nuisance,

然而尽管蚁鴷和雪雀鸠占雀巢的行为确实很讨厌，

they're worth tolerating because they provide a valuable early warning system.

它们还是值得忍受的，它们可以在危险来临之前给鼠兔预先的警告。

The bizarre Tibetan fox. The pika's nemesis⁴.

长相怪异的藏狐。鼠兔的灾星。

When stalking, it keeps below the skyline, perhaps helped by its curious body shape.

在蹑手蹑脚地潜近猎物时，藏狐能保持特别低的姿势，可能其古怪的体型起了一定的作用。

But why the square head?

但是为什么是方形的头呢？

1 ass   

n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人

参考例句：

• He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。
• An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。

2 conspicuous   

adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的

参考例句：

• It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显，抽烟对健康有害。
• Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。

3 burrows   

n.地洞( burrow的名词复数 )v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的第三人称单数 )；翻寻

参考例句：

• The intertidal beach unit contains some organism burrows. 潮间海滩单元含有一些生物潜穴。 来自辞典例句
• A mole burrows its way through the ground. 鼹鼠会在地下钻洞前进。 来自辞典例句

4 nemesis   

n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手

参考例句：

• Uncritical trust is my nemesis.盲目的相信一切害了我自己。
• Inward suffering is the worst of Nemesis.内心的痛苦是最厉害的惩罚。