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Lesson 79 The Prickly Hedgehog
第79课 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. "
刺猬是一种常见的动物, 英国各地都有它们的踪迹, 因为这里总有它们需要的食物与住所。刺猬之所以得到这样一个名字（hedgehog）, 其原因显而易见。它经常栖身在树篱（hedge）的底下, 它的鼻子与猪（hog）有几分相似。某些地区, 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.
完全发育成熟的刺猬身长大约为十英寸。它的背部与侧面都覆盖着坚硬的刺, 长度为一英寸左右。这些刺呈曲线状, 埋在皮肤下面的末端则有一点弯曲。它的鼻子为黑色, 身体腹部是一层黄色或白色短毛。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.
这种动物能够通过一种奇妙的方式来保护自己不受狗、狐狸或猫的伤害或捕杀。它把自己蜷曲成一个圆球, 鼻子埋在里面, 全身锋利的尖刺直立起来, 随时准备刺向试图攻击它的动物的鼻子。
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.
当刺猬从高处——比如墙顶上——掉下来时, 一身锋利的盔甲还能够保护它们不会摔伤。当它掉下来时就会把身子蜷曲成一个圆球, 那些柔韧性很好的尖刺便能够抵消掉撞击地面而产生的冲击力。
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.
刺猬的腿特别短, 当它奔跑起来时, 身体几乎就要碰着地面了。它每只脚上长有五个脚趾, 每个脚趾都有一个利爪。
