书城外语课外英语-美国各州小知识(三)(双语版)
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第14章 夏威夷州(3)

Governor Lingle is a native of St.Louis,Missouri.When she was 12,her family moved to Southern California,where she attended public schools.She relocated to Hawaii in 1975after graduating cum laude(〈俚〉以优等成绩毕业者)with a journalism degree from California State University,Northridge.In 1976,she founded and began serving as publisher of the Molokai Free Press.

State Bird州鸟

夏威夷雁在1949年成为夏威夷州州鸟。夏威夷雁,又叫夏威夷鹅。属雁形目,鸭科。它是加拿大鹅迁徙到夏威夷以后,进化而成的不会迁徙的陆栖鹅。翅膀较短,脚上部分有蹼。夏威夷雁体长约65厘米,有灰色和褐色的栅格羽毛。它们吃浆果和野草。后来成为夏威夷猫鼬、野狗和野猫的捕食对象。此外,还遭到人类的捕杀。由于面临这双重灾难,到1911年,已经所剩无几。从那时候起,才禁止人们捕杀。可是夏威夷雁的数量还是有减无增。当地鸟类协会采取相应的保护措施,才使得它们的数量增多。

The Nene(pronounced “nay-nay”)is a land bird and a variety of goose.It has adapted itself to life in the harsh lava(熔岩,火山岩)country by transforming its webbed feet into a claw-like shape and modifying its wing structure for shorter flights.Hunting and wild animals all but destroyed the species until they were protected by law and a restoration project established in 1949.

Designated Hawaii’s State Bird on May 7,1957,the Nene has endured a long struggle against extinction.During the 1940s this beautiful species was almost wiped out by laws which allowed the birds to be hunted during their winter breeding seasons when the birds were the most vulnerable.

By 1957,when the Nene was named the State Bird,rescue efforts were underway.Conservationists began breeding the birds in captivity(囚禁,被关)in hopes of preserving a remnant(残余,残迹)of the declining population and,someday,successfully re-establishing them in their native habitat.Early programs for returning captive-bred birds to the wild proved difficult,but recent efforts have been very successful.There are now small but stable populations of Nene on the islands of Hawaii,Maui,and Kaua’i.

GNene became wild on Kaua’i in 1982after Hurricane Iwa destroyed the cages of captive nene on the southeast side of the island.These birds rapidly adapted to the mongoose([动]猫鼬)-free,lowland,grassy(绿色的,像草的)habitat.Because these birds were so successful,State biologists recently have introduced Nene on the north and northwest coasts of Kauai.There are about 1000Nene outside Hawaii in zoos and private collections.The largest of these is at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge,England.A small group of Nene(assumedly escaped from Slimbridge)also seem to be enjoying life in the heart of old London at St.James Park,a tranquil(安静的)waterfowl(水鸟,水禽)haven situated in front of Buckingham Palace!Unfortunately,genetic limitations(限制,局限性)and disease problems mean that Nene outside of Hawaii cannot be used to help increase wild populations here.

According to the Hawaii Audubon Society,the Nene,currently on the Federal List of Endangered Species,is threatened today by introduced mongooses and feral(野生的,凶猛的)dogs and cats which relentlessly(无情地,残酷地)prey upon the Nene’s eggs and young.Preservation efforts are continuing and the success of the Nene in Hawaii,although not a certainty,is promising.There are now about 800wild Nene in Hawaii and the numbers are rising with each breeding season.

State Flower州花

引人注目而美丽的黄色芙蓉花在1988年6月6日成为本州州花。这种花用夏威夷语说叫:“pua aloalo”。这种花原产于亚洲和太平洋群岛。有趣的是,它也是马来西亚的国花。此种属真正的热带芙蓉属植物,属锦葵属植物科。最初夏威夷只有五种芙蓉花,后来引进了各种各样的芙蓉花,颜色和大小各异。

The striking and beautiful yellow hibiscus(芙蓉属的植物),known as the pua aloalo in the Hawaiian language,is the state flower.

Hawaii’s state flower originated in Asia and the Pacific islands.Interestingly,it is also the national flower of Malaysia.This species is a true tropical hibiscus belonging to the Malvaceae,or mallow(锦葵属植物)family.It is believed that there were originally only five species of hibiscus native to Hawaii.Later other varieties were imported and growers began to develop hybrids(杂种,混血儿,混合物)to produce the kaleidoscope(时时变化的鲜明景色)of colors and sizes found today.

In 1923Hawaii was still a territory,and the ilima was adopted as the state’s flower following its promotion by an organization called “The Outdoor Circle.”In 1950,when statehood was being anticipated by the Hawaiians,a resolution was introduced stating:“Hawaii’s official flower shall be the ilima(黄花稔属的一种小灌木),the flower of old royalty.”Many Hawaiians felt that the ilima should be the state’s flower because the famed ilima leis((夏威夷人戴的)花环,花冠)were always presented to dignitaries(权贵,高官,高僧,(尤指教会中)显要人物)who came to Hawaii.Two other exotic(异国情调的,外来的,奇异的)flowers,the lehua([植]〈夏威夷〉桃金娘花)and the vanda([植]万带兰),were also considered.However,when a vote was taken the ilima was chosen as the winner.

Hawaii officially became the fiftieth state of America in 1959.The realization that the ilima(黄花稔属的一种小灌木)had never been changed from being Hawaii’s territorial flower to her state flower didn’t surface until nearly thirty years later!To solve this problem,the legislature decided to legally adopt the flower that had for so long been considered official.

Therefore on June 6,1988,Hawaii changed its state flower from the native red hibiscus(Hibiscus kokio)to the ma’ohauhele,the only species of yellow hibiscus that can be called our state flower.

Description:

Ma’ohauhele is a shrub(灌木,灌木丛)that grows up to 10feet,with maplelike leaves and bright yellow flowers.It varies in appearance among islands but generally falls into two subspecies([生]亚种):H.brackenridgei subspecies brackenridge of Maui,Molokai,Lanai and the Big Island,and H.brackenridgei subspecies mokuleianus of Oahu and Kauai.

The most visible difference between the two subspecies is in the leaves and stems.The leaves of subspecies mokuleianus have more serrated(锯齿状的)margins and pink veins with tiny spines(脊骨,中心)on the branches.Subspecies brackenridgei,on the other hand,has leaves with more rounded margins and yellow veins,and it lacks the tiny spines on its branches.

Does well in full sun to partial shade and needs very little water,although daily watering is OK.It is a fast grower and will flower about twice a year.Each flowering period lasts up to two months,with blooms occurring daily on a flowering stalk that rises above the plant.

Distribution: