被视为国家象征的动物

Animals have always been used to represent certain human characteristics. Countries also use animals as symbols. From eagles to lions, many countries use an animal to show its national spirit and character.
 
人们常常用动物来表现人类的性格。许多国家把鹰和狮子等动物奉为国家的象征，用它们来展现民族精神和民族性格。

The image of an eagle is on the US President's flag, and on the one-dollar bill. The bald eagle is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and tail. The term "bald" does not mean that this bird lacks feathers. Instead, it comes from the old word piebald, that means, "marked with white".

美国总统印章和一美元币上都有白头鹰的形象。白头鹰体形很大，动作有力，羽毛呈灰色，脑袋和尾巴呈白色。白头鹰英文名字中的 "bald"并不是指它没有羽毛。追根溯源，这个词其实来自一个旧词 "piebald"，意思是“黑白相间的”。

The US declared that the eagle was its national bird in 1782. It was chosen because of "its long life, great strength, and noble looks".

1782年，美国宣布白头鹰为国鸟。它之所以能够入选，是因为它“长久的生命力、不凡的力量和高贵的‘容貌’。”

A few eagles have even become American heroes. An eagle named "Old Abe", the mascot of a Wisconsin troop of soldiers during the Civil War, travelled 14,000 miles with its men. He was often shot at by the enemy, but survived 42 battles. 　

有一些白头鹰甚至成为了美国的英雄。一只名叫“老阿比”的白头鹰是美国内战时期威斯康星州一支部队的福星。它跟随这支部队转战14000英里，经历42场战役。敌军经常向它射击，但它最终却“全身而退”。

But, one of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin didn't agree with the choice. "The bald eagle...is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by robbing, he is generally poor, and often very messy" he argued. Franklin wanted the turkey as the country's national bird.

不过，美国开国元勋之一本杰明-富兰克林不赞成把白头鹰作为美国的象征。他说：“白头鹰……品质恶劣；就像那些依靠抢劫过活的人一样，它穷困潦倒，肮脏不堪。” 富兰克林想把火鸡作为美国的国鸟。

King Henry I (1068-1135) was a brave warrior but also wise. His appreciation for the rule of law earned him the nickname the Lion of Justice. He was the first English King to use a lion as a royal symbol, which is popularly known as the "king of the jungle". By the year Richard I, known as "The Lionheart" for his bravery, came to the throne in 1189, the famous Three Lions badge had been formed. Now it can be seen on the shirts of England's sports teams.

英格兰国王亨利一世勇敢而又英明。他推崇法治，人们给他起了个绰号“正义之狮”。他是首位把“丛林之王”狮子作为皇室标志的英格兰国王。1189年，因勇敢而著称的“狮心国王”理查一世即位。到那时，著名的“三狮徽章”已经问世。如今，人们可以在英格兰运动队的运动衫上领略这种徽章的风采。

Although people might not think of lions when they think of England, everyone knows about the Australian kangaroo. Legend has it that the kangaroo gets its name from an early meeting between local aborigines and white settlers. When asked by the Europeans what these strange-looking animals were, a native replied "kangaroo" meaning, "I don't understand you."

当我们提起英格兰的时候，人们也许不会联想到狮子。但一提起澳大利亚，大家都知道袋鼠。关于袋鼠名字的由来有这样一个传说：早期殖民者初到澳洲，见到了当地的土著人。欧洲人就问他们这些奇怪的动物是什么，一个土著人回答道 “kangaroo”，意思是“我听不懂你说的话”。

The kangaroo is an individualistic animal. Although it does gather in groups, the kangaroo is not a herd animal. If a group is attacked, individuals run off in different directions. Australians think the kangaroo represents positive values, such as individual responsibility and pride.

袋鼠喜欢独来独往。它们有时也结群，但总体而言，袋鼠不喜欢群居。如果袋鼠群遭到攻击，它们就会四散奔逃。澳大利亚人认为袋鼠的个性代表着积极向上的价值观，例如个人责任和自尊。