美國語文第五冊 第257期：種子的傳播與種植（06）
I can confirm what William Barton wrote to Wilson, the ornithologist, that quote
依我來看，威廉·巴特拉姆寫給鳥類學(xué)家威爾森信中這段話頗有道理：
"The jay is one of the most useful agents in the economy of nature
在大自然經(jīng)濟活動中，松鴉是極有用的掮客。
for disseminating forest trees and other nuciferous and hard-seeded vegetables on which they feed.
它以堅果為食，同時將結(jié)有堅果或硬籽的森林種子到處傳播。
In performing this necessary duty they drop abundance of seed in their flight over fields, hedges, and by fences,
為履行這一必要職責(zé)，松鴉在飛越田野，或駐腳樹籬柵欄，
where they alight to deposit them in the post holes, etc.
或欲將糧食堅藏入洞而往返奔波時，遺落大量種子。
It is remarkable what numbers of young trees rise up in fields and pastures after a wet winter and spring.
歷經(jīng)連綿淫雨的冬春兩季，田野或平原到處竄出無數(shù)樹苗。
These birds alone are capable in a few years' time to replant all the cleared lands. Close quote.
單單這種能干的松鴉，無需幾年，就能將所有墾荒地再度植被造林。
I have noticed that squirrels also frequently drop nuts in open land,
松鼠時常在空曠地丟棄堅果，這點，我一直注意觀察，
which will still further account for the oaks and walnuts which spring up in pastures;
這種現(xiàn)象可進一步解釋，橡樹和核桃樹為何在牧場上萌生而出，
for, depend on it, every new tree comes from a seed.
因此，每一棵新生樹木的萌發(fā)皆來自種子。
When I examine the little oaks, one or two years old, in such places, I invariably find the empty acorn from which they sprung.
當(dāng)我察看一兩年生的小橡樹時，總會在樹木發(fā)芽的地方看到種子空殼，無一例外。
