The mating ritual of each species on Earth has certain, well, peculiarities.
地球上每一个物种它们的交配惯例中都存在某种怪癖。
As you might tell it from the name of the species itself, blue-footed boobies are no exception to this rule.
从这个物种的名字你就可以看出,蓝脚鲣鸟也不例外。
Here in the Galapagos Islands, this pair of blue-footed boobies check each other out.
在加拉帕戈斯群岛,这一对蓝脚鲣鸟正在检查这彼此。
Now, what is the most important quality the female looks for in a male: good looks? A steady income? Beachfront property?
那么在寻找另一半时,雌性最看重的是什么:长得帅?收入稳定?海边小别墅?
Well, those are important, but they pale in comparison to having blue feet.
那些都很重要,但是与拥有一双蓝色脚掌相比,以上这些可就相形见绌了。
Hence, this dance- the revelation of foot color, so that the female will not by mistake mate with a red-footed booby, or even a crab-footed booby.
因此,这种舞姿—揭露了脚掌的颜色,所以雌性不会把它们和红脚鲣鸟或是蟹脚鲣鸟弄混。
Now, let's say though an iguana wanders into a booby land.
现在比如说,有只鬣蜥蜴在鲣鸟领地徘徊。
The boobies tend to breed where the marine iguana spend the night, so this iguana does have a reason to be here.
鲣鸟会海鬣蜥睡觉的地方繁育,所以鬣蜥蜴还是有理由呆在这里的。
Not that the boobies care. They force the poor iguana to run a gantlet of pecking beats.
这些鲣鸟并不在乎。它们会用嘴巴啄着可怜的鬣蜥蜴。
Hey, let me out of here, man! This is worse than a fraternity hazing.
啊,让我出去!这比兄弟会受欺辱还糟糕。
The iguana finds its way out, which I guess in this case, you could say is the,er, booby prize- aha, sorry.
鬣蜥蜴发现逃生出路,这种情况下,我猜你或许会说这怕不是一个安慰奖吧。