In the contrary school, the duck is supreme. It comes nearer to the engines with which man has 'conquered' the air, as he boasts. Duck, and like them the pigeons, are endowed with such-like muscles, that are a good part of the weight of the bird, and these will ply the short wings with such irresistible power that they can bore for long distances through an opposing gale before exhaustion follows. Their humbler followers, such as partridges, have a like power of strong propulsion, but soon tire. 与滑翔鸟相对的另一类鸟中,数野鸭本领最高。它更近乎于人类自夸的“征服”了空气的发动机。野鸭及它们相似的鸽子有天赋的钢铁般的肌肉,占了体重的很大一部分。这些肌肉以巨大的力量扇动短小的翅膀,使这类鸟能顶着大风飞行很远的路才会疲劳。次于野鸭和鸽子的鸟,如鹧鸪,有相似的巨大推动力,但很快会疲劳。
New words and expressions 生词和短语
endow v. 赋有 ply v. 不断地供给 gale n. 大风 partridge n. 鹧鸪 like adj. 类似的 propulsion n. 推进力