There has long been a superstition among mariners
长期以来,海员中流传着一种迷信的说法,
that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface,
认为海豚会把快要淹死的人托到水面,救人性命;
or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation.
或在人们周围列队保护,使他们免遭鲨鱼伤害。
Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that,
海洋摄影室的生物学家指出,
however intelligent they may be,
无论海豚多么聪明,
it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of lifesaving.
认为它们有救人的动机可能是错误的。
On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being
当它们偶尔把一个失去知觉的人推到岸边时,
they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport,
更大的可能是出于好奇或游戏,
as in riding the bow waves of a ship.
就像它们追逐被船首犁开的浪花一样。