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Lesson 79 The Prickly Hedgehog
第79課 扎人的刺猬
The hedgehog is a common animal in every part of Great Britain where he can find suitable food and lodgings . We can easily see how he has got his name. He is often found at the bottom of our hedges, and he has a nose somewhat like that of a pig or hog. In some districts he is also called the "hedge-pig, " and in others the "urchin. "
刺猬是一種常見的動物, 英國各地都有它們的蹤跡, 因為這里總有它們需要的食物與住所。刺猬之所以得到這樣一個名字（hedgehog）, 其原因顯而易見。它經常棲身在樹籬（hedge）的底下, 它的鼻子與豬（hog）有幾分相似。某些地區, 它也叫hedge-pig或urchin。
The length of the full-grown hedgehog is about ten inches. His back and sides are covered with strong prickles or spines, each of which is about an inch in length. These spines are curved, and have a little bend at the end which is buried in the skin. His nose is black, and the under side of his body is covered with short yellow or white hairs. His tail is very short.
完全發育成熟的刺猬身長大約為十英寸。它的背部與側面都覆蓋著堅硬的刺, 長度為一英寸左右。這些刺呈曲線狀, 埋在皮膚下面的末端則有一點彎曲。它的鼻子為黑色, 身體腹部是一層黃色或白色短毛。尾巴很短。
This animal has a splendid way of protecting himself from the dogs, foxes, or cats which may try to kill him. He rolls himself up into a ball, with his nose inside. All his sharp spines then stand straight up, ready to prick the nose of any enemy that attacks him.
這種動物能夠通過一種奇妙的方式來保護自己不受狗、狐貍或貓的傷害或捕殺。它把自己蜷曲成一個圓球, 鼻子埋在里面, 全身鋒利的尖刺直立起來, 隨時準備刺向試圖攻擊它的動物的鼻子。
The hedgehog's spiny armour is also very useful in keeping him from getting hurt when he falls down from a height, as from the top of a wall. He rolls himself into a ball while he is falling, and the elastic spines break the force of the blow against the ground.
當刺猬從高處——比如墻頂上——掉下來時, 一身鋒利的盔甲還能夠保護它們不會摔傷。當它掉下來時就會把身子蜷曲成一個圓球, 那些柔韌性很好的尖刺便能夠抵消掉撞擊地面而產生的沖擊力。
His legs are so short that as he runs his body nearly touches the ground. Each of his feet has five toes, and each toe is armed with a claw.
刺猬的腿特別短, 當它奔跑起來時, 身體幾乎就要碰著地面了。它每只腳上長有五個腳趾, 每個腳趾都有一個利爪。
