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During their evolutions, on such occasions, the dense mass which they form exhibits a beautiful appearance,
在变幻多端的队形中，麇集鸽群的靓丽色彩令人击节赞叹。
as it changes its direction, now displaying a glistening sheet of azure,
倏尔，羽翼头部一片亮晶晶的蔚蓝扑面而来；
when the backs of the birds come simultaneously into view, and anon suddenly presenting a mass of rich, deep purple.
旋即，羽翼背部一团浓郁艳丽的深紫夺路而去。
They then pass lower, over the woods, and for a moment are lost among the foliage, but again emerge, and are seen gliding aloft.
低低掠过灌丛的鸽群，不时徜徉流连于树杈丛林间，一转眼，又重新聚集飞往高处。
They now alight; but the next moment, as if suddenly alarmed, they take to wing,
此刻，鸽群落到地面，哪怕丁点响动，便会急速拍打双翼腾空而起。
producing by the flappings of their wings a noise like the roar of distant thunder,
偌大鸽群拍打翼翅，听起来像远方滚过的一阵阵轰鸣雷声。鸽群不时穿越树林，
and sweep through the forests to see if danger is near. Hunger, however, soon brings them to the ground.
它们仔细察觉周围是否存在危险，不过，饥肠骨碌的它们很快再度落地觅食。
When alighted, they are seen industriously throwing up the withered leaves in quest of the fallen mast.
一旦降临地面，野鸽们便开始翻找地上的枯枝残叶，尽可能寻觅地上的橡树果实，
The rear ranks are continually rising, passing over the main body,
而鸟群后翼队伍继续保持低飞，直到飞过整个鸽群，
and alighting in front, in such rapid succession, that the whole flock seems still on wing.
飞到前方落地，这种连续快捷的队列，使整个鸽群处于随时起飞状态。
The quantity of ground thus swept is astonishing;
当然，大面积地面果实将被劫掠一空，
and so completely has it been cleared that the gleaner who might follow in their rear would find his labor completely lost.
犹如刚刚结束彻底清扫，倘若有拾穗人跟在鸽群后捡拾，终将一无所获。
On such occasions, when the woods are filled with these pigeons,
这种情况下，因为森林原野里的野鸽持续不断涌来。
they are killed in immense numbers, although no apparent diminution ensues.
野鸽遭遇捕杀的数量相当惊人，尽管尚未有明显的大批锐减，
