世界上最小的鸟类_蜂鸟(Humming Birds)

　蜂 鸟(Humming Birds)

世界上最小的鸟类_蜂鸟(Humming Birds)

　　蜂鸟是世界上已知最小的鸟类，因拍打翅膀的嗡嗡声(humming)而得名，属雨燕目蜂鸟科。它能够通过快速拍打翅膀悬停在空中，频率为每秒约15到80次，每分钟就能达到约900到4800次，拍打翅膀速度的快慢取决于蜂鸟的大小。蜂鸟是唯一可以向后飞行的鸟，它也可以在空中悬停或向左和向右飞行。蜂鸟还是世界上最小的恒温动物。

　　最美丽的蜂鸟生活在西印度群岛和南美大陆，它细小玲珑的脑袋上长着闪闪发光的羽冠，就像戴着一顶五颜六色的王冠。彩色的羽毛装点着它的前胸，是那样光彩夺目。以致当它从一个物体掠过另一个物体时，不像是有生命的东西，倒更像是阳光在闪烁。

　　也许你会问，为什么叫它蜂鸟呢？这是因为在它飞行的时候，翅膀会迅速扇动，并发出轻轻的嗡嗡声。它的翅膀扇动得非常快，以至于它在飞的时候你只能看到它们的翅膀。

　　一天，我在树林中散步时，发现了一种最小的蜂鸟所筑的巢。它大概只有一只很小的鸡蛋的一半那么大，附着在一根比织针还细的嫩树枝上。

　　它看起来像是由棉絮建成的，上面覆盖着柔软的小树叶和树皮。巢里面有两只十分洁白的蜂鸟蛋，每个蛋大概只有小块方糖那么大。

　　不过，当你接近蜂鸟巢的时候，千万得当心，蜂鸟妈妈可能向你猛冲过来，啄伤你的眼睛。它那非常锋利的鸟喙可能会对你的眼睛造成严重伤害，甚至会使你失明。

　　这可怜的小东西不知道用其他方法来保护自己的孩子，它的本能告诉自己，你们接近巢的目的就是为了带走它的孩子。

　　Humming Birds

　　The most beautiful humming birds are found in the West Indies and South America. The crest of the tiny head of one of these shines like a sparkling crown of colored light。

　　The shades of color that adorn its breast, are equally brilliant. As the bird flits from one object to another, it looks more like a bright flash of sunlight than it does like a living being。

　　But, you ask, why are they called humming birds? It is because they make a soft, humming noise by the rapid motion of their wings — a motion so rapid, that as they fly you can only see that they have wings。

　　One day when walking in the woods, I found the nest of one of the smallest humming birds. It was about half the size of a very small hen's egg, and was attached to a twig no thicker than a steel knitting needle。

　　It seemed to have been made of cotton fibers, and was covered with the softest bits of leaf and bark. It had two eggs in it, quite white, and each about as large as a small sugarplum。

　　When you approach the spot where one of these birds has built its nest, it is necessary to be careful. The mother bird will dart at you and try to peck your eyes. Its sharp beak may hurt your eyes most severely, and even destroy the sight。

　　The poor little thing knows no other way of defending its young, and instinct teaches it that you might carry off its nest if you could find it。