ANALYTICAL ENGLISH 解析英語(常春藤)

The stone tiger: Taiwan’s only native wildcat (1/2) 守護臺灣淺山精靈：石虎（上）

Taiwan is home to a beautiful wild feline: the leopard cat. Known locally in Mandarin as shih?, which translates to “stone tiger,” this elusive animal is Taiwan’s only surviving native wildcat. Although similar in size to a domestic tabby and easily mistaken for an ordinary housecat, the leopard cat ranks among the apex predators in Taiwan’s lowland ecosystems.

Distinguishing a leopard cat from a pet cat may seem challenging at first glance, yet several distinctive physical characteristics make identification considerably easier. Unlike the continuous stripes typically seen on a tabby cat, a leopard cat possesses a tawny-yellow coat marked with dark brown or black rosette-like spots that provide effective camouflage in its natural habitat. A closer look at its face reveals two prominent white stripes extending upward from the inner corners of its eyes. Even more telling are its ears. They are rounded rather than pointed, with a black back and a striking white patch in the center.

In terms of lifestyle, the leopard cat is a skilled nocturnal hunter that moves quietly and avoids detection. It is most active after dark, preying primarily on rodents, birds and insects. Unlike some small wildcats that spend most of their time hidden in dense forest canopies, the leopard cat is highly adaptable. It is equally comfortable moving through trees and hunting near water sources, allowing it to thrive in a variety of environments.

Photo: Taipei Zoo / 照片:台北市立動物園提供

To promote awareness of and appreciation for the leopard cat, Taiwan celebrates Leopard Cat Day annually on Oct. 5. The date, written as 10/05, was chosen as a clever Mandarin pun because its pronunciation (shi-w?) closely resembles that of shih?. This wordplay helps make the event easier to remember while encouraging people to celebrate and protect the island’s last remaining wildcat.

臺灣是美麗野生貓科動物 ── 石虎的家鄉。這種行蹤隱密的動物在當地中文裡被稱為「石虎」（意為石頭老虎），是臺灣僅存的原生野貓。儘管牠們的體型與家養的虎斑貓相似，且很容易被誤認為一般的家貓，但石虎其實是臺灣低海拔生態系中的頂級掠食者。

乍看之下，要區分石虎與寵物貓似乎滿困難的，但有幾項獨特的身體特徵讓辨識更為容易。與虎斑貓身上常見的連續條紋不同，石虎擁有茶黃色的毛皮，上面布滿了像玫瑰花一般的深褐色或黑色斑紋，這為牠們提供了在自然棲地中極佳的偽裝效果。若更仔細端詳牠們的面孔，會發現有兩條明顯的白線從內眼角向上延伸。而更具決定性的辨識依據則是牠們的耳朵。這對耳朵圓潤而非尖形，在黑色的耳後中央有塊醒目的純白斑塊。

在生活習性方面，石虎是高超的夜行性獵人，行動悄然無息且極難被察覺。牠們在入夜後最為活躍，主要捕食囓齒類、鳥類和昆蟲。與某些大部分時間都躲在茂密的森林樹冠層中的小型野貓不同，石虎具有極高的適應力。不論是在樹林間穿梭、還是到水源附近捕獵，牠們都一樣游刃有餘，因此石虎能夠在各式各樣的環境中茁壯。

為了提升大眾對石虎的認識與關注，臺灣將每年的十月五日訂為石虎日。之所以選擇 10/05 這個日期，是因為在中文裡，這個日期的讀音（十五）與「石虎」非常相似，是一個巧妙的諧音雙關。這種文字遊戲不僅有助於讓這個紀念日更容易被記住，同時也鼓勵大眾一同來頌揚及保護這座島嶼上僅存的原生野貓。

Words in Use

1. elusive a.（人或動物）難找到的

The mountain leopard is highly elusive and rarely shows itself in daylight.

這種山豹形跡極其隱密，很少在白天現蹤。

2. ecosystem n. 生態系

Introducing non-native species into this area could severely disrupt the natural ecosystem.

將外來物種引入該地區可能會嚴重破壞自然生態系。

3. characteristic n. 特徵，特性

The most obvious characteristic of a giraffe is its extremely long neck.

長頸鹿最明顯的特徵就是牠極長的脖子。

4. identification n. 辨識

This guidebook helps hikers with the identification of wild birds.

這本指南書有助於登山客辨識野鳥。

5. continuous a. 連續的，不中斷的

The artist drew the mountain landscape with one single, continuous line.

藝術家一筆到底，用一條連續的線條畫出了山景。

Practical Phrases

1. translate to. . .　意同……

In their culture, heavy rain translates to good luck.

在他們的文化中，大雨就意同好運。

2. mistake A for B　　將 A 誤認為 B

In the dark, I mistook the thick rope for a snake.

在黑暗中，我把那根粗繩子誤認為是一條蛇。

3. distinguish A from B　　區別 A 與 B

tell sb/sth apart　　分辨某人∕某物

An expert can easily distinguish glass from a real diamond.

專家可以輕鬆區別玻璃與真正的鑽石。

Both cats are completely black, so it’s hard to tell them apart.

兩隻貓都是全黑的，所以很難分辨牠們。

4. at first glance　　乍看之下，第一眼

At first glance, the beautiful painting looked like a real photograph.

乍看之下，這幅美麗的畫作看起來就像一張真的照片。

5. in terms of. . .　　在……方面，就……來說

In terms of population, Tokyo is a huge city.

就人口來說，東京是一座大城市。

What Did You Learn?

1. Which of the following pictures shows a characteristic of a leopard cat?

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true about leopard cats?

(A) Their hunting activities mainly take place after sunset.

(B) Their adaptability allows them to survive in different environments.

(C) Their resemblance to domestic cats can make it hard to tell them apart.

(D) Their annual observance falls on Oct. 5 because the date sounds like the species’ English name.