《鸟的故事》――海鸥拉瑞的五个世界

Larie was all alone in a little world.He had lived there many days,and had spent the time,minute by minute and hour by hour,doing nothing at all but growing.That one thing he had done well.There is no doubt about that;for he had grown from a one-celled little beginning of life into a creature so big that he filled the whole of his world crammed full.It was smooth,and it was hard,and its sides were curved around and about him so tightly that he could not even stretch his legs.There was no door.Larie was a prisoner.The prison-walls of his world held him so fast that he could not budge.That is,he could not budge anything but his head.He could move that a little.

在一个小小的世界里，躺着孤零零的拉瑞。他已经在那里住了好多天了。时间一分一分、一小时一小时地过去了，他只做了一件事情：发育。这件事情他做得不错，这一点无可置疑，因为他已经从单细胞的萌芽状态发育成了一个全新的生命，把他的小世界塞了个满满当当。他的小世界又滑又硬，四面穹顶，把他裹得紧紧的，连腿都没法伸一下；连门都没有，简直就是囚禁他的牢房。牢房的墙壁紧紧地贴着他，让他除了脑袋之外，无法动弹。也就是说，他只能稍稍动下脑袋。

Now,that is what we might call being in a fairly tight place.But you don't know Larie if you think he could not get out of it.There are few places so tight that we can't get out of them if we go about it the right way,and make the best of what power we have.That is just what Larie did.He had power to move his head enough to tap,with his beak,against the wall of his world that had become his prison.So he kept tapping with his beak.On the end of it was a queer little knob.With this he knocked against the hard smooth wall.

这就是我们所说的陷入困境。不过，要是你以为他无法摆脱这个困境，那你就太不了解拉瑞了。只要我们方法得当、竭尽全力，就没有不能摆脱的困境。拉瑞就是这样。他用力扭动脑袋，嘴巴刚好能敲到小牢房的墙上。于是，他开始用嘴巴不停地敲打。他的嘴巴尖上有一个奇怪的小疙瘩，拉瑞敲打又硬又滑的墙壁用的就是它。

"Tap!tip tip!"went Larie's knob.Then he would rest,for it is not easy work hammering and pounding,all squeezed in so tight.But he kept at it again and again and again.And then at last he cracked his prison-wall;and lo,it was not a very thick wall after all!No thicker than an eggshell!

“嗒！嗒嗒！”拉瑞嘴巴上的小疙瘩开始敲了。敲一下，他就停一会儿，因为地方这么小，这么挤，敲敲打打可不是件容易的事。可他还是坚持不懈，不停地敲呀敲呀，终于，牢房的墙壁被凿穿了！唉，瞧，这墙本来就不怎么厚嘛！还没蛋壳厚呢！

That is the way with many difficulties.They seem so very hard at first,and so very hopeless,and then end by being only a way to something very,very pleasant.

很多困难都是这样，刚开始的时候似乎艰难无比，希望渺茫，可是，结果却往往令人异常惊喜。

So here was Larie in his second world.Its thin,soft floor and its thick,soft sides were made of fine bright-green grass,which had turned yellowish in drying.It had no roof.The sun shone in at the top.The wind blew over.There had been no sun or wind in his eggshell world.It was comfortable to have them now.They dried his down and made it fluffy.There was plenty of room for its fluffiness.He could stretch his legs,too,and could wiggle his wings against his sides.This felt good.And he could move his head all he cared to.But he did not begin thumping the sides of his new world with it.He tucked it down between two warm little things close by,and went to sleep.The two warm little things were his sister and brother,for Larie was not alone in his nest-world.

就这样，拉瑞来到了他的第二个世界。这里地板薄薄的、软软的，四周的墙厚厚的，也软软的，全都铺着青翠的小草，小草快干了，有点发黄。这里没有屋顶，头顶上是暖洋洋的太阳，还有风儿吹过呢。他的蛋壳世界可没有太阳，也没有风。现在有了它们可真是舒服。它们弄干了他身上的绒毛，把他变得毛茸茸的，现在有的是地方让他浑身都毛茸茸的。也能伸腿了，能扑棱翅膀了。感觉真不错！还可以随心所欲地转动脑袋，不过这次他没有拿脑袋去撞新世界的墙，而是把它埋在身边两个暖暖的小东西之间，睡着了。两个暖暖的小东西就是他的弟弟和妹妹，现在，鸟窝世界里的拉瑞有伴儿了。

The sun went down and the wind blew cold and the rain beat hard from the east;but Larie knew nothing of all this.A roof had settled down over his world while he napped.It was white as sea foam,and soft and dry and,oh,so very cosy,as it spread over him.The roof to Larie's second world was his mother's breast.

太阳落山了，风也冷飕飕的，雨从东边噼里啪啦地落了下来。可是，这一切拉瑞却一无所知。因为，就在他打盹的时候，一个屋顶遮住了他的世界。这个屋顶像浪花一样洁白，盖在他的身上软软的、干干的，噢，真舒服。原来，拉瑞第二个世界的屋顶就是他妈妈的胸膛。

The storm and the night passed,and the sun and the fresh spring breeze again came in at the top of the nest.Then something very big stood near and made a shadow,and Larie heard a strange sound.The something very big was his mother,and the strange sound was her first call to breakfast.When Larie heard that,he opened his mouth.But nothing went into it.His brother and sister were being fed.He had never had any food in his mouth in all the days of his life.To be sure,his egg-world was filled with nourishment that he had taken into his body and had used in growing;but he had never done anything with his beak except to knock with the knob at the end of it against the shell when he pipped his way out.What a handy little knob that had been—just right for tapping.But,now that there was no hard wall about him to break,what should he use it for?Well,nothing at all;for the joke of it is,there was no knob there.It had dropped off,and he could never have another.

雨停了，天亮了，太阳又暖洋洋地照到了鸟巢上，和煦的春风也扑面而来。突然，旁边站起一个遮天蔽日的庞然大物，同时，拉瑞听到一个奇怪的声音。原来，那个庞然大物就是他的妈妈，那个奇怪的声音是她的第一声呼唤，她在招呼孩子们吃早餐。拉瑞听到了，立即张开了嘴巴，可是，却什么也没吃到，原来，都喂给了弟弟和妹妹。自从出生以来，他还滴水未进呢。确实，他的蛋壳世界里面装满了营养，他把这些营养都吸收到身体里，利用它们发育成长，可是，嘴巴尖上的那个疙瘩除了帮他敲碎蛋壳、爬到外面之外，还从未做过别的什么事儿呢。多么灵巧的一个小疙瘩啊，正适合敲东西。可是，现在周围没有硬硬的墙可敲了，那还能拿它来干什么呢？呵呵，什么都干不了啦；因为很可笑，嘴巴上的疙瘩没啦，已经掉了，再也长不出第二个了。

Never mind:he could open his beak just as well without it;and by-and-by his mother came again with a second call for breakfast,and that time Larie got his share.After that,there were calls for luncheon and for dinner,and luncheon again between that and supper;and part of the calls were from Mother and part from Father Gull.

不过，不用担心：没有它，拉瑞照样可以张嘴；不久，妈妈又过来喊他们吃早餐了，这次就有拉瑞的份了。早餐之后，又叫他们吃午餐和晚餐，午餐、晚餐和夜宵之间还有加餐，叫他们吃饭的有时候是海鸥妈妈，有时候是海鸥爸爸。

Larie's second world,it seems,was a place where he and his brother and sister were hungry and were fed.This is a world in which dwell,for a time,all babies,whether they have two legs,like you and Larie,or four,like a pig with a curly tail,or six,like Nata who lived in Shanty Creek.An important world it is,too;for health and strength and growing up,all depend upon it.

拉瑞的第二个世界似乎就是一个和弟弟妹妹一起饿了吃，吃了饿的世界。所有的小宝宝都曾经在这个世界里待过一段时间，不管他们是像你和拉瑞那样的两腿宝宝，还是像卷尾巴猪那样的四腿小宝宝，或者是像“木屋溪”的蜻蜓娜塔那样的六腿小宝宝。这个世界也很重要，因为宝宝一生的健康、体力和发育都取决于它。

There was,however,only a rim of soft fine dry grass to show where Larie's nest-world left off and his third world began.So it is not surprising that,as soon as their legs were strong enough,Larie and his brother and sister stepped abroad;for what baby does not creep out of his crib as soon as ever he can?

拉瑞的巢窝世界和他的第三个世界之间只隔着一圈软软的、细细的干草。所以，拉瑞和弟弟妹妹的腿脚刚一有劲儿，就迈出了边界，这一点儿也不奇怪，因为哪个宝宝不是迫不及待地爬下婴儿床的呢？

They could not,for all this show of bravery,feed themselves like the sons of Peter Pan,or swim the waters like Gavia's two Olairs at Immer Lake.However grown up the three youngsters may have felt when they began to walk,Father and Mother Gull made no mistake about the matter,but fed them breakfasts,dinners,and suppers,and stuffed them so full of luncheons between meals,that the greedy little things just had to grow,so as to be able to swallow all that was brought them.

可是，尽管他们勇气可嘉，却无法像矶鹞彼得·潘的儿子们那样自己养活自己，也无法像潜鸟加菲娅的两个宝宝那样在爱默湖上游泳。三个小家伙儿刚刚才开始蹒跚学步，就觉得自己已经长大成人了，但是，在这件事情上，海鸥爸爸和海鸥妈妈可一点儿也不犯糊涂，他们不停地给孩子们喂食，早餐、晚餐、夜宵，期间还不住地加餐，结果，三个贪吃的小家伙只好拼命地长个儿，这样才能咽得下喂给他们的那些食物。

There were times,certainly,when Larie still felt very much a baby,even though he ran about nimbly enough.For instance,when he made a mistake and asked some gull,that was not his father or mother,for food,and got a rough beating instead of what he begged for!

当然了，尽管拉瑞腿脚已经灵便，可以到处乱跑了，但是，有些时候，他仍然感觉自己像个小宝宝。比如，有一次他弄错了，把别的海鸥当成了爸爸妈妈，向他们讨食吃，结果不仅什么都没吃到，还挨了一顿猛揍！

Oh,then he felt like a forlorn little baby,indeed;for it was not pleasant to be whipped,and that sometimes cruelly,when he didn't know any better;for all the big gulls looked alike,with their foam-white bodies and their pearl-gray capes,and they were all bringing food;so how could he know who were and who were not his father and mother gull?Well,he must learn to be careful,that was all,and stay where his very own could find and feed him;for gulls can waste no time on the young of other gulls—their own keep them busy enough,the little greedies!

噢，那个时候他感觉自己就像是一个被遗弃的小宝宝，因为挨揍可不是什么让人高兴的事情，而且，有时候，还被揍得特别狠，因为他不吸取教训，总是弄错。没办法，所有的大海鸥长得都差不多：身子像浪花一样洁白，披着珍珠灰的斗篷，还都叼着吃的，所以，他怎么知道谁是自己的鸥爸鸥妈，谁又不是自己的鸥爸鸥妈呢？可是，无论如何，他必须学会小心，没别的办法；还有，他得待在一个自己的亲爸亲妈能找到自己，而且能给自己喂食的地方；因为，海鸥可没工夫给别人家的孩子喂食，自己的孩子已经够他们忙活的了，这些小贪吃鬼们！

Again,Larie must have felt very wee and helpless whenever a big man walked that way,shaking the ground with his heavy step and making a dark shadow as he came.Then,oh,then,Larie was a baby,and hid near a tuft of grass or between two stones,tucking his head out of sight,and keeping quite still as an ostrich does,or,—yes,—as perhaps a shy young human does,who hides his head in the folds of his mother's skirt when a stranger asks him to shake hands.

还有，每当大块头的人类从那边走过来的时候，沉重的脚步声让大地都为之震颤，而且还有一条暗影随身而行，那个时候，拉瑞一定感到了自己的渺小和无助。那个时候，噢，那个时候拉瑞就是一个小宝宝，把脑袋塞到草丛或石缝里面藏起来，一动不动就跟鸵鸟一样，或者，对了，也许就像是人类害羞的小孩子，陌生人想和他握手，可是他却把脑袋埋在妈妈的裙褶里藏了起来。

But few men trod upon Larie's island-world,and no man came to do him harm;for the regulations under the Migratory-Bird Treaty Act prohibit throughout the United States the killing of gulls at any time.That means that the laws of our country protect the gull,as of course you will understand,though Larie knew nothing about the matter.

不过人类很少踏上拉瑞的海岛世界，更不会有人来伤害他；因为《联邦候鸟法案》（Migratory-Bird Treaty Act）规定在美国境内任何时候都不能捕杀海鸥。也就是说，海鸥受国家法律的保护，虽然拉瑞对此一无所知，可是，你当然会明白的，对吧？

Yes,think of it!There was a law,made at Washington in the District of Columbia,which helped take care of little downy Larie way off in the north on a rocky island.

是的，想想吧！毛茸茸的小拉瑞生活在北方很远很远的一个岩岛上，为了帮着照顾他，竟然还制定了一部法律，在哥伦比亚特区华盛顿制定的法律。

I said"helped take care of";for no law,however good it may be,can more than help make matters right.There has to be,besides,some sort of policeman to stand by the law and see that it is obeyed.

我是说“帮着照顾”；因为无论多好的法律，也只能是起辅助作用。除此之外，必须还要有专门的警察来捍卫这部法律并监督人们遵守这个法律。

So Larie,although he never knew that,either,had a policeman;and the law and the policeman together kept him quite safe from the dangers which not many years ago most threatened the gulls on our coast islands.In those days,before there were gull-laws and gull-policemen,people came to the nests and took their eggs,which are larger than hens'eggs and good to eat;and people came,too,and killed these birds for their feathers.Then it was that the beautiful stiff wing-feathers,which should have been spread in flight,were worn upon the hats of women;and the soft white breastfeathers,which should have been brooding brownish eggs all spattered over with pretty marks,were stuffed into feather-beds for people to sleep on.

因此，拉瑞有一个警察，不过，他对此也毫不知情。这部法律和这个警察在共同保护他，让他不再遭受几年前沿海岛屿上的海鸥们所面临的那些危险。那个时候，还没有海鸥保护法和海鸥保护警，人们经常拿走海鸥巢里的海鸥蛋，因为海鸥蛋比鸡蛋大，而且很好吃。另外，为了得到海鸥身上的羽毛，人们也来这里捕杀海鸥。于是，那美丽又挺拔的翅羽，本该是用来凭空翱翔的，却被女人们戴在了帽子上；那柔软洁白的胸羽，本该用来孵化洒满漂亮斑点的褐色海鸥蛋的，却被塞进了人类睡觉用的羽绒床。

Well it was for Larie that he lived when he did;for his third world was a wonderful place and it was right that he should enjoy it in safety.When Larie first left his nest and went out to walk,he stepped upon a shelf of reddish rock,and the whole wall from which his shelf stuck out was reddish rock,too.Beyond,the rocks were greenish,and beyond that they were gray.Oh!The reddish and greenish and grayish rocks were beautiful to see when the fog lifted and the sun shone on them.

拉瑞在生活中磨炼着自己，过得健康又快乐。他的第三个世界精彩纷呈，就该让他安然无忧地享受这个精彩的世界。第一次离巢去散步时，他落在了一块突出来的岩石上，这块岩石是淡红色的，与它相连的石壁也是淡红色的。石壁那边是淡绿色的，再往那边是灰白色的。哦！云开雾散，阳光普照，那淡红、淡绿和淡灰色的岩石看上去可真漂亮啊！

But Larie's island-world was not all rock of different colors:for over there,not too far away to see,was a dark-green spruce tree.Because rough winds had swept over this while it was growing,its branches were scraggly and twisted.They could not grow straight and even,like a tree in a quiet forest.But never think,for all of that,that Larie's spruce was not good to look upon.There is something splendid about a tree which,though bending to the will of the mighty winds that work their force upon it,grows sturdy and strong in spite of all.Such trees are somehow like boys and girls,who meet hardships with such courage when they are young,that they grow strong and sturdy of spirit,and warm of heart,with the sort of mind that can understand trouble in the world,and so think of ways to help it.

不过，拉瑞的海岛世界不全是色彩斑斓的岩石，瞧，就在那边不远处，有一棵墨绿色的云杉树，因为还没长大就遭到了狂风的摧残，所以它的枝丫已经扭曲变形，寂静的森林里，树可以长得挺拔整齐，可是这里的云杉却不能。尽管如此，你可千万不要觉得拉瑞的云杉不好看。假如一棵树在狂风的怒吼中弯下了腰，可是依然长得顽强茁壮，那么这棵树一定不同寻常。这样的树有点像人类的孩子，如果小时候勇于面对困难，那么长大后其精神就坚不可摧，其心灵就温暖如春，其人也就善解人意，他也就会想方设法去帮助别人。

Yes,perhaps Larie's tree was an emblem of courage.However that may be,it was a favorite spot on the island.Often it could be seen,that dark,rugged tree,which had battled with winds from its seedlingdays and grown victoriously,with three white gulls resting on its squarish top—birds,too,that had lived in rough winds and had grown strong in their midst.(https://www.xing528.com)

Birds，too，that had lived in rough winds.
狂风中的小鸟。

是的，或许拉瑞的这棵杉树就是勇气的象征。不管是不是，反正大家都喜欢去那里。瞧，这棵饱经风霜的杉树上经常栖息着三只饱经风霜的白色海鸥。杉树迎着怒吼的狂风，从一棵小树苗长成了一棵参天大树，三只海鸥栖息在杉树顶那平坦的树枝上，也迎着怒吼的狂风，茁壮成长。

There was more on the island than rocks and trees.Over much of it lay a carpet of grass.Soft and fine and vivid green it was,of the kind that had been gathered for Larie's nest and had turned yellowish in drying.Under the carpet,in underground lanes as long as a man's long arm,lived Larie's young neighborfolk—little petrels,sometimes called"Mother Carey's Chickens."

海岛上不止有岩石和云杉。岛上大部分地方都铺着一层草毯，又细又软，翠绿翠绿的，拉瑞筑巢用的就是这种草，这种草干了以后就变黄了。草毯下面，有很多和人类胳膊一样长的地下甬道，那里住着拉瑞的伙伴——小海燕，有时他们也被叫作“圣母玛丽亚的小鸡”。

There was even more on the island yet:for high on the rocks stood a lighthouse;and the man who kept the signal lights in order was no other than Larie's policeman himself.A useful life he lived,saving ships of the sea by the power of light,and birds of the sea by the power of law.

岛上的东西还多着呢：高高的岩石上耸立着一座灯塔；控制信号灯的不是别人，正是保护拉瑞的那位警察。他的生活多么有意义啊！他点燃明灯拯救海上的船只；他严格执法拯救海上的鸟儿。

So that was Larie's third world—an island with a soft rug of bright-green grass,and big shelfy rocks of red and green and gray,and rugged dark-green trees,with white gulls resting on the branches,and a lighthouse with its signal.

这就是拉瑞的第三个世界：海岛。岛上绿草如茵，像铺着一条松软明丽的地毯；巨石嶙峋，红的、绿的、灰的，色彩斑斓；饱经风霜的墨绿色云杉上栖息着白色的海鸥；还有那传递信号的灯塔。

All around and about that island lay Larie's fourth world—the sea.When his great day for swimming came,he slipped off into the water;and after that it was his,whenever he wished—his to swim or float upon,the wide-away ocean reaching as far as any gull need care to swim or float.

海岛四周是拉瑞的第四个世界：大海。下水游泳的伟大时刻终于来到了，他轻轻一滑就溜进了大海；从此，大海就属于他了，只要他愿意，他就可以尽情地游，尽情地漂。茫茫大海，浩瀚无边，他想游多远就游多远，想漂到哪里就漂到哪里。

All over and above the sea stretched Larie's fifth world—the air.When his great day for flying came,he rose against the breeze,and his wings took him into that high-away kingdom that lifted as far as any gull need care to fly.

大海上面是拉瑞的第五个世界：天空。展翅翱翔的伟大时刻终于来到了，他迎着和煦的微风离开地面，乘着翅膀飞上了天空。那是一个高无边际的王国，海鸥们可以尽情地飞，想飞多高就飞多高。

Now that Larie could both swim and fly,he was large,and acted in many ways like an old gull;but the feathers of his body were not white,and he did not wear over his back and the top of his spread wings a pearl-gray mantle.

现在，拉瑞既会游，又会飞了，他体型健硕，行为举止俨然像是一只老海鸥；可是，他身上还没有白如浪花的羽毛，后背和飞羽上也没有披珍珠灰的斗篷。

Nor was he given the garb of his father and mother for a traveling suit,that winter when he went south with the others,to a place where the Gulf Stream warmed the water whereon he swam and the air wherein he flew.

那年冬天，和其他海鸥一起南飞的时候，他身上也没有爸爸妈妈那样的旅行服。他们去的那个地方，因为有墨西哥暖流经过，所以，海水暖暖的，天空也暖暖的。

But there came a time when Larie had put off the clothes of his youth and donned the robe of a grown gull.And as he sailed in the breezes of his fifth world,which blew over the cold sea,and across the island with a carpet of green and rocks of red and green and gray,—for he was again in the North,—he was beautiful to behold,the flight of a gull being so wonderful that the heart of him who sees quickens with joy.

可是，这一天终于来了。拉瑞脱去了幼时的衣服，换上了成年海鸥的长袍。他迎着第五个世界的微风轻快地飞着，那微风掠过冰冷的海面，从海岛上那绿草如茵的草毯和红的、绿的、灰的各色岩石上吹过。啊！他又回到了北方！瞧，他飞得多美！无论是谁看了，都会兴奋不已，心跳加速。

Larie was not alone.There were so many with him that,when they flew together in the distance,they looked as thick as snowflakes in the air;and when they screamed together,the din was so great that people who were not used to hearing them put their hands over their ears.

拉瑞并不孤单，和他结伴而行的海鸥多极了，密密麻麻的，从远处看就像是空中飘洒的雪花；他们一起尖叫，声音震耳欲聋，不习惯这声音的人会赶紧用双手捂住耳朵。

And more than that,Larie was not alone;for there sailed near him in the air and floated beside him in the sea another gull,at whom he did not scream,but to whom he talked pleasantly,saying,"me-you,"in a musical tone that she understood.

和拉瑞结伴而行的还另有其人呢。无论他在天空翱翔，还是在海里漂游，身边总是陪伴着另一只海鸥，拉瑞从不对她大喊大叫，而总是柔情蜜意地对她说：“蜜——友”，听上去就像在唱歌，对此，她心领神会。

Larie and his mate found much to do that spring.One game that never failed to interest them was meeting the ships many,many waves out at sea,and following them far on their way.For on the ships were men who threw away food they could not use,and the gulls gathered in flocks to scramble and fight for this.Children on board the ships laughed merrily to see them,and tossed crackers and biscuits out for the fun of watching the hungry-birds come close,to feed.

Floated beside him in the sea another gull，to whom he talked pleasantly.
另一只海鸥陪伴在他身旁和他一起在海面漂游，和她说话时，他总是柔情蜜意。

那年春天，拉瑞和太太有很多事情要忙。其中有一项他俩永远乐此不疲的运动，那就是越过重重的海浪去迎接海上的船只，然后一路相送到很远的地方。原来，船上的人们会把吃不完的食物扔进海里，于是海鸥们就成群结队、争先恐后地抢食这些食物。看到他们，船上的孩子就会欢呼雀跃，他们把饼干和面包扔向大海，看着这些如饥似渴的鸟儿纷纷飞来觅食，开心极了。

Many a feast,too,the fishermen gave the gulls,when they sorted the contents of their nets and threw aside what they did not want.

还有渔夫赠送的盛宴呢！渔夫清理渔网里的鱼儿时，会把不要的鱼儿扔到一边。

Besides this,Larie and his mate and their comrades picnicked in high glee at certain harbors where garbage was left;for gulls are thrifty folk and do not waste the food of the world.

除此之外，拉瑞夫妇和伙伴们还会兴致勃勃地飞到一些垃圾处理港去野餐，因为海鸥一个个都很会省吃俭用，从不浪费粮食。

From their feeding habits you will know that these beautiful birds are scavengers,eating things which,if left on the sea or shore,would make the water foul and the air impure.Thus it is that Nature gives to a scavenger the duty of service to all living creatures;and the freshness of the ocean and the cleanness of the sands of the shore are in part a gift of the gulls,for which we should thank and protect them.

看他们的觅食习惯，你就知道这些漂亮的鸟儿是食腐动物，专吃海上或岸上那些会让海水变脏、空气变臭的东西。原来，大自然赋予了食腐动物为所有生物服务的职责。从某种程度上讲，清新的海洋和洁净的海滨沙滩是海鸥馈赠给我们的礼物，为此，我们不仅要心怀感激，而且还要保护他们。

Relish as they might musty bread and mouldy meat,Larie and his mate enjoyed,too,the sport of catching fresh food;and many a clam hunt they had in true gull style.They would fly above the water near the shore,and when they were twenty or thirty feet high,would plunge down head-first.Then they would poke around for a clam,with their heads and necks under water and their wings out and partly unfolded,but not flopping;and a comical sight they were!

尽管拉瑞夫妇很喜欢吃发霉的面包和腐臭的肉，但是，他们也捕捉新鲜食物；一次又一次的捕蛤行动真正体现了海鸥的风范：先在海岸附近的水面上盘旋，飞到二十或三十英尺高时，猛地一头扎进水里，四处戳探，他把脑袋和脖子都伸进水里，而翅膀却露在水面上，半张着，并不拍打，看上去滑稽极了！

After Larie found a clam,he would fly high into the air a hundred feet or so above the rocks,and then,stretching way up with his head,drop the clam from his beak.Easily,with wings fluttering slightly,Larie would follow the clam,floating gracefully,though quickly,down to where it had cracked upon the rocks.The morsel in its broken shell was now ready to eat,for Larie and his mate did not bake their sea-food or make it into chowder.Cold salad flavored with sea-salt was all they needed.

捉到蛤蜊后，拉瑞就会飞到礁石上方一百英尺左右的地方，脖子往上一伸，嘴巴往开一张，把蛤蜊扔下去。然后，轻轻挥动翅膀，拉瑞就能轻而易举地循着蛤蜊落下的足迹，飞到让它粉身碎骨的礁石上，整个过程优雅而又敏捷。碎壳里的美味现在就可以吃了，拉瑞夫妇吃海鲜可不用烤，也不用煮，只要有海盐凉拌过就行。

After Larie found a clam，he would fly high into the air a hundred feet or so，and then drop it.
捉到蛤蜊后，他就会飞到礁石上方一百英尺左右的地方，把蛤蜊扔下来。

It was not for food alone that Larie and his mate lived that spring.
那年春天，拉瑞和太太活着可不光是为了吃饭。

Exciting as were these hunts with the flocks of screaming gulls,it was not for food alone that Larie and his mate lived that spring.For under the blue of the airy sky there was an ocean,and in that ocean there was an island,and on that island there was a nest,and in that nest there was an egg—the first that the mate of Larie had ever laid.And in that egg was a growing gull,their eldest son—a baby Larie,alone inside his very first world.

和嘎嘎尖叫的海鸥们一起捕捉蛤蜊真是激动人心，然而，那年春天，拉瑞和太太活着可不光是为了吃饭。风轻云淡的碧空下有一片大海，大海里有一处小岛，小岛上有一个鸟巢，鸟巢里有一枚鸟蛋，那是拉瑞太太产的第一枚蛋；蛋里面有一只小海鸥，他就是拉瑞夫妇的长子小拉瑞，他正孤零零地待在他的第一个世界里呢。