1. The post was coated with tar.
    这电线竿涂有焦油.

2. There are also endless numbers of birds in the tar as well.
    沥青坑里还有无数只鸟的尸体。

3. Apparently what happened was that water collected on these tar pits, and the bigger animals like the elephants ventured out on to the apparently firm surface to drink, and were promptly bogged in the tar.
    显然，事情的经过是这样：沥青坑里积存了水，大象那样的大动物冒险到似乎坚固的水面上去饮水，立即掉进了沥青坑。

4. Other animals were trapped in tar pits, like the elephants, sabretoothed cats, and numerous other creatures that are found at Rancho la Brea , which is now just a suburb of Los Angeles.
    有的动物掉进天然沥青坑里被保存了下来，如在兰桥·拉·布里--现在是洛杉矶的郊区发现的大象、剑齿虎和许多其他动物。