Henry the Hippo

Henry the Hippo

河马亨利

Hi, everyone! My name is Bobby and I’m a bird. I live on the back of a hippopotamus— a male hippopotamus, actually. His name is Henry. Henry and I live near a lake in Africa. Hippos live near rivers and lakes all over Africa. But they don’t live on any other continent. How did a tiny bird and a big hippo become friends? Well, we help each other out!

嗨,大家好!我叫博比，我是一只鸟。我住在河马的背上 实际上是一只雄性河马。他的名字叫亨利。 亨利和我住在非洲的一个湖边。河马生活在非洲各地的河流和湖泊附近。但它们不生活在其他任何大陆上。 一只小鸟和一只大河马是如何成为朋友的?嗯，我们互相帮助!

I eat ticks and bugs off Henry’s body. In return, he lets me live on his back. Hippos help other animals too. There are many plants around the rivers, swamps, and lakes. Henry makes a path through the thick plants. Then other animals can walk to the water. Henry also helps plants. Henry poops in the water, but it’s okay.

我吃亨利身上的虱子和虫子。作为回报，他让我住在他的背上。 河马也帮助其他动物。河流、沼泽和湖泊周围有许多植物。 亨利在茂密的植物中开辟了一条小路。然后其他动物可以走到水里。 亨利也帮助植物。亨利在水里拉屎，但没关系。

The plants grow strong from the nutrients in his poop. Other animals eat the plants and get strong. As you know, it gets extremely hot in Africa. Do you wear suntan lotion to protect your skin from the bright sun? Believe it or not, Henry makes his own suntan lotion! He sweats red oil. The oil prevents his skin from cracking or burning. I like to put some on my beak when I am hot!

植物靠它便便里的营养长得很强壮。其他动物吃了这些植物，变得强壮起来。 如你所知，非洲非常热。你会用防晒霜来保护你的皮肤不受阳光的伤害吗? 信不信由你，亨利自己做防晒霜!他汗流浃背。 这种油可以防止他的皮肤开裂或灼伤。当我热的时候，我喜欢在我的喙上放一些!

In ancient Greece, people thought hippos sweated blood. But I know it is just skin oil. Henry spends most of the day in the water. It’s cooler there, and Henry’s skin is especially suited to water. But Henry isn’t a very good swimmer. He usually walks on the river or lake floor. Hippos’ eyes, nostrils, and ears are on the tops of their heads.

在古希腊，人们认为河马会流汗。但我知道那只是皮肤油。 亨利一天中的大部分时间都呆在水里。那里更凉爽，而且亨利的皮肤特别适合水。 但是亨利不擅长游泳。他通常在河底或湖底行走。 河马的眼睛、鼻孔和耳朵都长在头顶上。

This helps them breathe and watch for danger when they are in the water. Henry can also stay underwater for five minutes. He closes his nostrils and presses his ears against his head. That way, water does not get in. When Henry comes out of the water, he makes funny snorts and hisses. It’s hot now, but soon it will be evening. In the evening Henry and I leave the lake.

这有助于它们在水中呼吸和观察危险。亨利还可以在水下呆五分钟。 他闭上鼻孔，把耳朵贴在头上。这样，水就进不去了。 当亨利从水里出来时，他发出滑稽的鼻息声和嘶嘶声。 现在很热，但很快就会到晚上了。傍晚，我和亨利离开了湖边。