The fly has two thin clear wings, one on each side. It has also six legs. Its wings and its legs are all joined to its chest.
苍蝇有两只透明的薄翅膀, 一边一只。苍蝇还有六条腿, 翅膀和腿都是从胸部长出来的。
The foot of the fly has two small claws for holding on with. It has also two pads, which are always covered with a sticky gum; and this keeps its foot from slipping on any smooth place. By this means also the fly can walk on the ceiling without falling.
苍蝇的脚上长着两个小爪子, 用来抓住东西。还有两个爪垫盘, 一直覆盖着一层粘液, 这样苍蝇在光滑的表面上, 脚就不会打滑, 而且还可以在天花板上爬行, 不会掉下来。
Flies feed on dirt of all kinds. They are of some use in eating up what would cause a bad smell. They are alsovery fond of sweet things, like treacle and sugar.
苍蝇什么碎屑都吃。可以用苍蝇来吃掉一些会产生臭味的东西。苍蝇还喜欢甜的东西, 比如糖浆、砂糖。
The fly lays its eggs on pieces of meat, or something else that will serve as food for its young. These eggs look like tiny white balls. But it is not a small fly that comes out of the egg. It is a little white worm.
苍蝇把卵产在肉上, 或者其他能当幼虫食物的东西上。苍蝇卵看起来像白色的小球, 但里面出来的不是小苍蝇, 而是一种白色的小虫子, 学名叫“蛆”。
These worms eat a great deal, and then they go to sleep. They become hard and dry, as if they were dead. But soon this dry case bursts open, and out comes a full-grown fly. Is not this a strange way for a fly to be born?
这些小虫子要吃很多东西, 然后就睡着了, 身体变得又干又硬, 好像死了一样, 学名叫“化蛹”。但是很快, 这层干燥的硬壳就会破开, 爬出来苍蝇的“成虫”。苍蝇这样的出生过程, 不是很奇怪么?
Bees and butterflies and other insects pass through the same changes before they get their wings.
蜜蜂、蝴蝶和其他的昆虫, 在长出翅膀以前, 也要经历一样的变化。