The treeless zone, called "the barren-grounds," or simply "the barrens," extends southward from the ice-bound shores of the polar seas, and gradually merges into the forest-region, where it is encircled by a garland of evergreen. The want of trees in this region is caused not so much by its high northern latitude as by the cold sea-winds which sweep unchecked over the islands and the flat coast-lands of the Polar Ocean, and for miles and miles compel even the hardiest plant to crouch before the blast and creep along the ground. Nothing can be more melancholy than the aspect of the boundless morasses or arid wastes of the barrens of Siberia. Dingy mosses and gray lichens form the chief vegetation; and a few scanty grasses and dwarfish flowers that may have found a refuge in some more sheltered spot are not sufficient to relieve the dull monotony of the scene.
无树木生长的地区叫做“贫瘠之地”，或者可以简单称之为“不毛之地”，该地区从冰封的极地海岸一直向南延伸，之后逐渐融入由常绿的花环包围着的森林地带。其不生长树木的原因与其说是受过高的北纬纬度的影响，不如说是受那股肆无忌惮地吹过岛屿和极地海洋平坦海岸的海风的影响，在这股海风的逼迫之下，即使再坚韧的植物也被欺压倒地。没有什么能比无边无际的沼泽和西伯利亚那片不毛之地的荒芜景象更加令人伤感的了。暗黑色的苔藓和灰色的地衣是那里的主要植被，而一些躲在避难所里的稀疏的草儿和矮小的花儿也无力为那单调乏味的景象增添一丝的明亮色彩。
In winter, when animal life has mostly retreated to the south, or sought a refuge in burrows and in caves, an awful silence, interrupted only by the hooting of a snow-owl or the yelping of a fox, reigns over this vast expanse; but in spring, when the brown earth reappears from under the melted snow, and the swamps begin to thaw, enormous flights of wild-birds return to the scene, and enliven it for a few months. An admirable instinct leads those winged legions from distant climes to the Arctic wildernesses, where, in the morasses and lakes, on the banks of the rivers, on the flat strands, and along the fish-teeming coasts, they find abundance of food; and where, at the same time, they can with greater security build their nests and rear their young. Some remain on the skirts of the forest-region; others, flying farther northward, lay their eggs upon the naked wastes.
到了冬天，多数的野生动物都迁徙到了南方或是钻进洞穴里开始了漫长的冬眠，此时除了偶尔能听到猫头鹰和狐狸发出的叫声外什么声音都没有，寂静统治了这片辽阔之地。然而，等到了春天，冰雪开始融化，褐色的土壤再次露出地面，沼泽开始解冻，大量的野生鸟类也重新飞回家园，这时，这片区域就又能迎来那生机勃勃的几个月。那些长着翅膀的飞鸟大军会出于一种令人钦佩的本能从遥远的地方迁徙到北极荒野，它们不仅能在北极荒野的沼泽和湖泊里、河岸上、平坦的海岸上、沿着鱼类丰富的海岸找到大量的食物，在这里筑巢和养育后代也让它们更有安全感。它们有的逗留在森林地区的边缘，有的则向北飞去在那光秃秃的荒地上产卵。
Eagles and hawks follow the traces of the swimming and strand-birds; troops of ptarmigans roam among the stunted bushes; and when the sun shines, the finch or the snow-bunting warbles his merry note.
老鹰们跟随着这些游禽和海鸟而来；成群的雷鸟在矮小的灌木丛里漫着步；到了太阳高照的时候，燕雀和雪鹀就会唱起欢快悦耳的歌声来。
While thus the warmth of summer attracts hosts of migratory birds to the Arctic wildernesses, shoals of salmon and sturgeons enter the rivers, in obedience to the instinct that forces them to quit the seas and to swim up the streams, for the purpose of depositing their spawn in the tranquil sweet waters of the river or lake. About this time, also, the reindeer leaves the forests, to feed on the herbs and lichens of the barrens; and to seek along the shores, fanned by the cool sea-breeze, some protection against the attacks of the stinging flies that arise in myriads from the swamps.
到了夏天，温暖的气候吸引了大批的候鸟来到北极荒野，成群的大马哈和鲟鱼纷纷下水畅游，为了能在河流或者湖泊那宁静而甜美的水域里产卵，它们在本能的驱使之下离开了海洋游向了溪流。也大约就在这个时候，驯鹿们也开始离开森林去吃那不毛之地的药草和地衣，它们在凉爽的海风的吹拂下沿着海岸寻找庇护之地来抵御沼泽里那成群出现的带刺的苍蝇的攻击。
Thus during several months the barrens presents an animate scene, in which man also plays his part. The birds of the air, the fishes of the water, the beasts of the earth, are all obliged to pay their tribute to his various wants—to appease his hunger, to clothe his body, or to gratify his greed of gain.
因此，在这几个月里，荒原上呈现出一片生机勃勃的景象，而人类也在其中扮演着自己的角色。天上的鸟、水里的鱼、地上的兽，它们都有义务向自己的各种需求致敬——缓解饥饿、穿衣裹腹、或者满足自己的贪欲。
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