The Argus①　阿格斯鸟

The Argus is a bird with magnificent plumage;it inhabits the forests of Java and Sumatra,and takes its place beside the pheasant,from which it only differs in being unprovided with spurs,and by the extraordinary development of the secondary feathers of the wings in the male.The tail is large and round,and the two middle feathers are extremely long and quite straight.When paraded,as it struts round the female,spreading its wings and tail,this bird presents to the dazzled eye of the spectator two splendid bronze-colored fans,upon which is sprinkled a profusion of bright marks much resembling eyes.It owes its name of Argus to these spots.

阿格斯鸟身着华丽的羽毛，生活在爪哇岛和苏门答腊岛上的森林里。这种鸟和雉鸡差不多，唯一的不同就是阿格斯鸟天生没有肉距，而且雄鸟的次生羽翼超级发达，尾巴又大又厚，尤其是中间的两根羽毛又长又直。每当雄鸟张开翅膀和尾巴，围着雌鸟神气活现地走来走去炫耀自己的时候，就会展现出两个精美绝伦的古铜色扇子，扇子上撒满了像眼睛一样的亮圆圈，令人眼花缭乱。正因如此，它才得名阿格斯。

【注】

①Argus是希腊神话中有一百只眼睛的巨人，非常机警，睡觉时从不把眼睛全部闭上。