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But there, as in all tropical countries, there is a season of rain and storm.
但那兒正如所有的熱帶地區一樣，都有一個暴風雨的季節。
Then the birds disappear, as the swallows do with us, and seek some sheltered place.
那時候，這些鳥就都消失了。像燕子一般，去尋找可以棲息的地方。
But when the rain is over, and the spices in the woods breathe out fresh fragrance,
當雨季結束時，森林里的香料散發出清新的香味，
they return to their old haunts, and the gay plumes of the male birds may be seen glittering amongst the trees as before.
鳥兒們會回到以前常去的地方，雄鳥漂亮的羽毛和從前一樣在樹林中閃閃發光。
When the Birds of Paradise are about to take one of their long flights, they choose a leader to be king over them.
當天堂鳥要開始一次長途飛行時，它們會選出一位首領。
Where he goes they go, and where he settles they settle, perching on the same tree.
首領飛去哪兒，他們就去哪兒，首領落在哪兒，它們也落在哪兒，在同一棵樹上棲息。
He generally flies high up in the air, far above the heads of his subjects;
領飛的鳥通常會飛在高空，在它的子民之上，
and he takes care to lead them against the wind, so that their loose floating plumes may not be blown over their heads.
小心地帶領它們對抗狂風，這樣它們松散的羽毛可能才不會被風吹得遮住頭頂。
If a storm comes, they then rise higher and higher, and keep mounting until they reach a calmer and serener region.
如果暴風雨來了，它們就越飛越高，一直飛到一片寂靜之地。
The natives always know the king, by the spots which he has upon his tail, like the eyes upon the feathers of the peacock.
當地人通過看鳥的尾巴，總是能認出鳥王，就像看羽毛來辨別孔雀一樣。
When they go into the woods to shoot these birds, they try to kill him first.
人們進入樹林射殺這些鳥時，會先殺死鳥王。
In order to get a good shot, they make a little bower of leaves and branches of trees,
他們為了能射得更準，造了一些用樹葉和樹枝遮蓋的涼棚，
within which they can hide themselves and yet see all that is going on.
這樣可以躲在里面，但仍能查看周圍發生的一切。
