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LESSON 38 The rorqual
第三十八課 長須鯨
In the wide ocean which extends between Greenland and Nova Zembla,
在格林蘭島和新地島之間那片廣闊的海域里，
the huge rorqual rules, the undisputed monarch of the watery wilds.
長須鯨是無可爭議的王者，統治著整片水域。
Though much greater in length than the Greenland whale (varying from 100 to 121 feet),
雖然長須鯨比北極露脊鯨長許多（長度從100到121英尺不等），
its body is more slender, and its muzzle considerably more pointed.
它的體型卻更為靈巧，嘴巴也要長得多。
Being active and fearless, it is avoided by the whalers;
由于長須鯨到處活動，無所畏懼，捕鯨手們都敬而遠之；
especially as, in consequence of the small amount of oil it produces,
特別是由于長須鯨體內的油不多，
and the short length and inferior quality of the whale-bone in its mouth,
嘴里的骨頭短，骨質也不好，
it is of much less value than the true whale.
長須鯨也就比其它鯨魚要廉價的多。
Having a large gullet, it is able to swallow fish of considerable size;
長須鯨的食道非常大，因此能吞下體型龐大的魚類；
and it is stated that in the stomach of one captured
據說曾有一只被捕獲的長須鯨，
there were found no fewer than six hundred large cod fish, with no small number of pilchards besides!
胃內有至少六百條大鱈魚和大量沙丁魚！
This will give some idea of the havoc it makes among shoals of fish.
由這可想而知，它是如何肆意蹂躪淺灘上的魚類的。
To satisfy its voracious appetite, it follows them in all directions,
為了滿足巨大的食欲，長須鯨從各個方向尾隨這些魚，
frequently leaving the Arctic seas in search of its prey;
經常離開北冰洋尋找獵物；
and it has been found hovering round the fishing grounds off the coast of Great Britain.
還有人發現它們曾在英國海岸附近的漁場游蕩。
