The edges of these bones are fringed with hairy fibres, through which the Right Whale strains the water,
這些須骨的四邊都結(jié)有許多毛茸茸的筋筋,它就通過這些筋筋來濾水,
and in whose intricacies he retains the small fish, when openmouthed he goes through the seas of brit in feeding time.
當(dāng)露脊鯨張開了口,向小魚群游去捕捉食物的時候,把那些小魚給留住在這些機關(guān)里。
In the central blinds of bone, as they stand in their natural order, there are certain curious marks, curves, hollows, and ridges,
在這些細長窗簾的須骨中間,按照它們那天生的情況,有一些奇怪的記號,有弧形的,有凹空的,有山脊形的,
whereby some whalemen calculate the creature's age, as the age of an oak by its circular rings.
捕鯨人就靠這些東西來計算它的年齡,一如判斷橡樹的年齡,是靠它外邊一圈圈的樹輪一樣。
Though the certainty of this CRIterion is far from demonstrable, yet it has the savor of analogical probability.
雖然這種標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的準(zhǔn)確性很不可靠,然而,也有幾分相近的可能性。
At any rate, if we yield to it, we must grant a far greater age to the Right Whale than at first glance will seem reasonable.
總之,如果我們相信這個算法的話,那我們就得比初眼一看時,給露脊鯨再加很多的歲數(shù),才似乎比較合理。
In old times, there seem to have prevailed the most curious fancies concerning these blinds.
在古代,對于這些細長窗簾,似乎曾流行過一些最為奇特的想法。
One voyager in Purchas calls them the wondrous "whiskers" inside of the whale's mouth; another, "hogs' bristles";
在柏查斯(塞繆爾·柏查斯(1575—1626)——英國作家、牧師,著有《柏查斯游記》五卷。)的著作中,有一個旅客管它們叫做鯨嘴里的"胡須";又有人管它叫"豬鬃";
a third old gentleman in Hackluyt uses the following elegant language:
此外,還有一個在哈克魯特的著作中的老先生,以下列這些文雅的話來說明:
"There are about two hundred and fifty fins growing on each side of his upper chop, which arch over his tongue on each side of his mouth."
"在它上顎兩邊,各長有約二百五十根鰭狀物,各從一邊拱罩著它的舌頭。"
This reminds us that the Right Whale really has a sort of whisker, or rather a moustache,
這使我們想到,露脊鯨確實有胡須,或者是類似于短髭這樣的東西,
consisting of a few scattered white hairs on the upper part of the outer end of the lower jaw.
那就是在它下顎外端的頂上部地方,有稀稀落落的幾根白毛。
Sometimes these tufts impart a rather brigandish expression to his otherwise solemn countenance.
這些胡子,往往給它本來很是威嚴(yán)的外貌,增添了一種土匪氣。)