Е. ЧАРУШИН
КТО КАК ЖИВЁТ?
(на английском языке)

CHARUSHIN
HOW THEY LIVE

1THE SQUIRREL

   The squirrel is not afraid of the cold. She has a warm coat of grey fur.
   Summer comes, and the squirrel changes her coat for a lighter, red one. Now there is no one to hide from, for the fur is too thin to attract hunters.
   Squirrels dry mushrooms and shell cones.

2THE HARE

    The hare is a fast runner. Not every dog can run him down. He sleeps in the undergrowth, out of sight of his enemies. But he comes hopping out of the forest into the field when he wants his dinner.
     Keep the hare out of your garden! For he will nibble the bark off the apple - and cherry-trees.

3THE WOLF

   In summer the wolf is never hungry, for there is plenty of food about.
   But when winter comes, the birds fly away and the animals hide in their holes. Then there is nothing for the wolf to eat and he prowls about, hungry and fierce, in search of prey. He may even enter a village, and wherever the watchman is slack and the bolts are poor, the sheep are in danger.

4THE BEAR

   All through the winter the bear lay sleeping in his lair in the forest, sucking at his paw. But as soon as the sun melted the snow, he was up and about and off in search of food.
  It was while hunting for last summer’s berries and digging for roots that he saw some bees flying out of a hollow in a tree.
   Eager for a taste of honey, the bear climbed up the tree and thrust his head and paws into the hollow. But the bees refused to let him have their honey and drove the bear out. Roaring with pain, he fell to the ground and lumbered off in search of other food.

5THE ZEBRA

   Herds of quick, graceful little horses move at a swift pace over the plains of Africa.
  They are the zebras, and they differ from ordinary horses. Zebras are striped, they have short manes and no bangs.
   The zebra is wild. It takes skill to tame a full-grown animal. But young zebras are trusting.

6THE CAMEL

   The feet of a camel do not sink in sand. Also, he can stay without food or water for a long time. There is no sweet-tasting grass in the desert and no leafy trees, and wells are scarce and far apart.
    Where roads are bad and impassable for cars and horses, the camel is man’s best, most faithful helpmeet.

THE LION

    Travellers will tell you that when darkness descends on the African savanna strange noises are heard on every side, the hyenas laughing horribly and the jackals howling.
    Then suddenly the roar of a lion rends the air, rolling like thunder.
    Hearing him, the hyena and the wild boar take for cover and the zebras and antelopes break into a run. The lion has come out to hunt, and no one wants to be caught in his powerful jaws.

7THE TIGER

   The tiger is a bold and terrible beast. He lurks in the underbrush in the jungle, often beside a path along which antelopes, buffaloes and wild boars make their way to their watering place. The tiger patiently awaits his prey.
   Other animals fear the tiger. Men, unless they are armed, can well fear him too, for the tiger is dangerous.

8THE ELEPHANT

    Elephants do not stalk our forests or roam our steppes.
    They live in the plains of Africa and the jungles of India.
   Wielding his trunk like an arm, the elephant moves bamboos apart and plucks them out by the roots. Coming to a riverside, the elephant will draw water into his trunk and then spray himself to wash off the dirt and dust.
   The elephant has no enemies. Everyone fears this mighty giant.
   When tamed, an elephant will make a good helpmeet. He will do the hardest chores and can even learn to take care of children.