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兀鹰本来是一只又丑又老的鸟，而且相当愚蠢。他的羽毛不是非常漂亮，但还算过得去。但是有一天，他发现自己的羽毛大把大把地脱落，他就问别的鸟这是怎么回事。他们说这是脱毛，新羽毛不久就会长出来的。但兀鹰很悲观，整日担忧他的羽毛，于是日渐消瘦，而且积忧成疾。别的鸟都很同情他，于是，每只鸟都送他一根羽毛，粘在他身上。有了鸟儿们送的羽毛以后，兀鹰变得自负起来，整日身披别人的羽毛昂首阔步，宣称自己是最漂亮的鸟。他越来越骄傲，甚至要求众鸟称他为王。见他傲慢到如此地步，众鸟都来啄他，不但啄掉了他们送他的羽毛，而且连兀鹰自己的羽毛也不放过。羽毛被啄光以后，兀鹰就变得又老又丑又秃了。这就是为什么直到今天兀鹰还是一只又老又丑的鸟，而且脾气乖戾。 Why the Vulture Is Bald? The vulture was originally a humble old bird, and rather stupid. His plumage was not exceptionally beautiful, but quite passable. One day, however, he noticed that his feathers were falling off. He consulted other birds, who told him that he was merely moulting, and new would grow later. But the vulture was pessimistic, and soon became thin and sick with worry about his plumage. At last the other birds took pity on him, and each gave him a feather to stick on his body. When all the birds had given him their feathers, the vulture looked a wonderful bird with a plumage of all colors. The vulture now became conceited. He strutted about in his borrowed feathers, and declared that he was the most beautiful of all the birds. He became more and more proud until he asked the birds to recognize him as their king. At this insolence, the birds pecked off, not only the feathers that they had given the vulture, but also the vulture’s own feathers. So when the birds had finished with him, the vulture looked old and ugly and bald. That is why even at the present day the vulture is a sour and ugly old bird. |
