When I heard about this book I knew that I'd end up buying it,as I am a raptor fanatic(unfortunately its use is limited here in Ireland, as only three raptor species are in any way common,and very few migrant raptors occur) All of the regular European species(plus Lappet-faced Vulture) are depicted,with the number of photos seemingly varying in proportion to difficulty of identification.The text is fairly technical,but readable enough,and there isn't an excess of jargon(thank God!)I first used it to age a Marsh Harrier this January as an adult female,and in this respect it was of great use. It also helped me to tentatively age a Buzzard in late Feb. as a 2nd-year bird.I have yet to be confronted by a raptor which I actually haven't identified to species before consulting this book, but if I do I would turn to this book straight away.Also,many of the photos are superb,and whet the appetite for species that I have yet to see (all but eight of them!)The section at the start about moult etc. is extremely interesting also.If you live in Europe and have an interest in raptors,buy this book.Now,about that trip to the continent.......

Note: Because there is a twin-pack that offers both the 1934 W.C. Fields film "Six of a Kind" and his classic 1940 film "The Bank Dick," the reviews for those two movies, both together and individually, are all cross-referenced. However, this is just a review of "Six of a Kind," the lesser known of the two Fields films.

Directed by Leo McCarey, "Six of a Kind" finds J. Pinkham Whinney (Charlie Ruggles) and his wife Flora (Mary Boland), planning a second honeymoon in Hollywood, California. They advertise for a couple to share expenses on the trip and end up with not only George Edward (George Burns) and Gracie DeVore (Gracie Allen), but their gigantic Great Dane. Meanwhile, Ferguson (Bradley Page), one of the other clerks at the bank where Whinney works has put $50,000 into the unsuspecting man's suitcase intending to rob him the first night on the road. Of course, Gracie makes the group go a different way and it takes a while for Ferguson and his gal Trixie (Grace Bradley) to catch up.

The resolution involves the sheriff of a Nevada town, John Hoxley (W.C. Fields) and innkeeper, Mrs. Rumford (Alison Skipworth), and the hilarious arrest sequence top off this above average comedy. Fields and Skipworth had been paired together successful in several previous films, including "Tillie and Gus" and while they work well together as the last pair making up the "Six" of the title. The other scene that really stands out is when Fields plays another one of his famous billiard games where the cue is a tad warped. Ruggles and Boland are supposedly the "stars" of the film, but of course the comedy team of Burns & Allen upstage them: when they first meet, Mrs. Whinney thinks the couple are interior decorators because Gracie is changing everything in their living room. As an example of the "road comedy" pictures of this period, of which "It Happened One Night" is obviously the best, "Six of a Kind" makes fun of the new fangled idea of taking a vacation that is mainly traveling in a car for a really long period of time. I do not think this is a great W.C. Fields film, but it is certainly above average and having Burns & Allen involved is not exactly a bad thing either.

Ruggles and Boland, as J. Pinkham and Florence Whiney, are about to depart on a cross-country second honeymoon to Hollywood, for which they make the mistake of advertising for a companion couple........The idea of putting no fewer than six seasoned comedy actors into one movie was an inspired one for Paramount. Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland were already a popular co-starring duo at that studio; the hilarious radio team of straight-man George Burns and scatterbrained Gracie Allen were also giving films a try; Alison Skipworth was a formidible character actress for both comedy and drama, and Fields, with his nasal, descending-scale line readings, was a unique comedy attraction with a large, specialised following. Leo McCarey, their director on this occasion, had just survived one the the Marx Bros. most fondly remembered vehicles: DUCK SOUP. Wild gags, both visual and verbal abound in SIX OF A KIND with each of the aforementioned six performing their specialties in a Walter DeLeon-Harry Ruskin script that appropriately sets the scene for uninhibited farce. A short (65 minutes) episodic film, the movie isn't quite the comedy classic it might have been, but there are classic scenes such as that giant hound growling in the back seat ; there's a tree which saves both Ruggles and Boland from a fall of a cliff..............A wee bit too much of Gracie Allen at her most annoyingly obnoxious makes one wish that the writers could have distributed the balance of scenes with a bit more equality among its stars.

If you are a Fields fan, or even a film buff just starting to appreciate The Great Man, this film is must viewing. Six of A Kind, a Paramount film, is one of those ensemble comedies that were popular in the 30's. Although Burns and Allen and Charles Ruggles are a treat, Fields' scenes are timeless. The pool table scene where W.C. explains how he got the name Honest John is a repropduction of some of his famous vaudeville stunts, and includes one of his old vaudeville cronies as the straight man. The Bank Dick, a Universal picture, is considered by many the high-water mark of Fields' career. W.C. had broad artistic control of the Universal features the this film is 100% Fields inspired. Franklin Pangborn is the perfect foil as J. Pinkerton Snoopington the bank examiner, and Grady Sutton as Fields' future son-in-law, Og Oggleby, is another of the many zany characters in the film. The plot? Fields guards a bank, foils some robbers, makes a fortune and directs a picture, all in a day's work. Fields fans need to support these efforts by film distributors to release his films. Many of his films are still unavailable on VHS, much less DVD.

This book is very cool. Four feet long, unwrap layer by layer and find information each time. You can even hang up the mummy! I love it and so does my lil bro!

I've had this book since i was given it by my parents when i was 7, and even though it has an age title of 6-8 i still enjoy it and i'm now 14! But the whole book is cleverly written for children to understand so they learn while having fun. I would personally recommend this book to anyone who is hesitant to purchase it, for their children or even for themselves.

Ok, first, great book for the beginner. If you are new but enthused, this book will help in several ways. Informs you of tank setup, maintenance, fish species and compatability, correct water biology, and a good general guide to the art. It has excellent illustrations on tank setup, from hardware to types of gravel and plants in two formats, one for hardware one for everything else, and many to choose from. A good reference on fish and types, with excellent photos from common fish in Tropical and Marine. Outlines everything you will need to setup and maintain your aquarium with interesting reading. Has a chapter on how to photograph your fish as well as how to show them. Second, I read this book cover to cover in two days, easy reading...but not to vague. If you are starting out, you must have this book. If other books have confused you, this one will help. I recommend it :).

It's hard to be all things to all readers. Having said that this is the best reference I've read for the beginner who is setting up an aquarium. Initial set up and maintenance sections are excellent and are easy to understand and read. There is a helpful plant section and useful flow charts for disgnosing fish illness problems are included. The 75 page species guide (48 pages devoted to tropical freshwater) features excellent photos and keeping details. I believe this book would have appeal to both the experienced and novice fish owner and give it my highest recommendation.

I have been keeping fish for quite a long time now and I would certainly recommend this book to anyone. Dick Mills has provided the beginner and novice alike with a reference that brings and gives insight every time you open its pages. I literly learned the art of fish-keeping from this book and will still hold its teachings and advice to be true. I find myself picking up this book to simply learn and relearn what I already know. Much of fish-keeping is a personal journey of discovering what works for you, however, having this book on your shelf as a back-up is a smart thing. Some of the technology concerning filtering is a bit dated, however, this does not diminish the standard set by it information by any means. If I sound overly expressive about this book, then so be it.

Good down-to-earth advice for beginning runners. Covers shoe selection, assessing your fitness level, setting goals, stretching, motivation, and many sample workout plans.

Frank Wells, the Walt Disney exec, and Dick Bass, a top entrepreneur set out to climb the continent's seven highest summits in a logistical challenge of peak bagging. The writing doesn't really capture the magic of the mountains and envelop you in the high altitude mystique.

The book does have it's moments, like the challenging endurance journey of climbing Aconcagua, and the suspense of if they even climbed the right summit for Mt Vinson in Antarctica. Since it is a book about climbing mountains, it's a worthwhile read, but there are far better mountain climbing books out there..."Into Thin Air" by Krakauer...anything by Heinrich Harrer. Frank Wells died shortly after the book came out from a helicopter accident while heli-skiing. The movie "The Lion King" is a far better and moving tribute to a great man than this book. Skip this book and resist the urge to climb mountains above your head for the sake of peak bagging and go out and get "Into Thin Air" and be caught up in the altitude.

What happens when two wealthy, middle aged men with commanding, type A personalities get together? Why they decide to climb the seven summits, the highest mountain on each of the seven continents! Their attempts to snare their trophy mountains makes for a rip rollicking good read. What is most remarkable is that one of them actually manages to summit each and every one of the seven mountains in question.

The account of their adventure runs the gamut of the human experience: humor, pathos, joy, and ultimate success. Their achievement is incredible, considering that they were middle aged, novice climbers. Yet their grit and determination, coupled with a seemingly endless cash flow, allowed them to hob nob with the mountaineering elite and, ultimately, enables one of them to achieve their collective dream.

These are two men who, when looking back on their lives, will never find themselves in the position of saying "would've, could've, should've". They dared to live their dreams. Would that we were all so inclined. In any case, their adventures during their remarkable quest make for some very absorbing reading. Climbing enthusiasts will enjoy this book, as will as those who love a good adventure story.

Frank Wells and Dick Bass had a dream of summiting the highest peak in each of the seven continents. The good news was they were rich and very determined. The bad news was they were middle-aged and novice climbers.

The seven summits vary in difficulty. Australia's Koscuisko is only 7,310 feet and families regularly hike to the top. Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa is not a dangerous challenge. But there is also Mt. McKinley, known for its vicious storms; Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, mind-numbingly cold and a logistical nightmare, and then the one Dick Bass christened "The Big Mother," Mt. Everest.

This is their story, and it is inspiring. Before it is over, you feel as if Dick Bass is one of your best friends. He combines high good humor, tenacity and perseverance. The man is a modern miracle. Frank Wells is a more reserved, executive type, an excellent organizer with will power to spare.

Rick Ridgeway, a writer and world-class climber, tells the story. The pace is good while they are on the mountains, and the book has excellent descriptive sections on the difficulties of the ascents. Unfortunately, Mr. Ridgeway does not have an ear for dialogue. Direct conversations have all the informality of a voice mail menu. There are unbelievable frustrations and red tape when preparing and mounting an expedition. I could have done with fewer blow-by-blow accountings of each and every hurdle that had to be overcome before the expedition could take place. This was especially true of Everest and Mt. Vinson. The last chapter is the successful summiting of Mt. Everest by only one of the pair. It is beautifully written and very satisfying. "Seven Summits" is a motivating read.

As a short story writer, Dick Francis writes great thrillers. Some of the stories are top-notch, others leave a lot to be desired. Usually, when a author starts publishing a book of shorts, it tends to be because the powers are waning and one has to produce a book a year ( Jeffery Archer excepted--a better short writer). One hopes this is not the case here, as Mr Francis is still a shining light as "Come to grief" showed a couple of years ago. The fans, like myself, will lap it up, but will have to hang out for another 12 months for one of those great Francis thrillers

I have enjoyed Dick Francis novels for many years. I mail ordered this book, and was somewhat dismayed to discover that it is a collection of short stories - not my favorite format. They are enjoyable, and well written short stories, but there isn't enough room for much character development.

I highly recommend this book to both new Dick Francis readers and old. For the longtime reader of Francis' work, this is a refreshing reminder of another side of the author, too often played down in favor of plot excitement: subtlety and wit.

The classic Francis protagonist is the principled loner (sometimes jaded, sometimes not) who stumbles onto a mystery and into trouble, then follows through to the bitter (and successful) end, usually with numerous bruises, a couple of sprains, and probably at least one fairly serious broken bone or other bloody inconvenience. More often than not (at least in the first three decades of his books), the narrator finds love, as well. Throughout four decades of writing, Francis' stoic narrators have become a bit predictable (though still fun), which makes the unpredictability of this collection all the more enjoyable.

Relying more on irony and wit than in any other book, Francis has concocted a series of clever plots with interesting characters (really different from his usual heroes). These stories are very enjoyable and even a bit droll. They move quickly, surprise, and reward. By all means pick this one up.

At a time when Mr. Francis may be winding down his career, this collection is a real gold mine, and one last glimpse at a great mystery writer's talent.

I ordered this book without having seen it before, and was diasappointed at how outdated so much of the information is. For example, most of the references are 1960s and 1970s, many much earlier than that, and practically nothing after the mid-1980s. The illustrations are overrated in the description, most are poor quality B&W and the vegetation map is nothing to get excited about. If you want plant lists of the different vegetation types, you get that, and the information is probably accurate in that respect. However, I returned my copy for the refund!

This is an organized, valuable resource for environmental design or to just learn more about one's surroundings in the state of New Mexico...especially the high deserts and uplands.

It did leave out the serious Chihuahuan Desert region floral elements of the Pecos and Canadian drainages of northeastern NM, though. Why do so few gather information for that unique area? Also, some of my colleagues and I have wondered if it wouldn't be better to differentiate between Plains Sand Scrub and Mesa Sand Scrub, given one is on the milder, western part of the state and the other is on the more extreme, eastern part of NM. Just my pet peaves!

But quite refreshing to see all of this easy-to-understand information, as the only huge dissapointment is that the book isn't longer, and that the maps aren't even more detailed! A worthwhile read!

I am trying to track down my family heritage. If you know anything about the Peddie clan's expansion in the United States. I would wager that your middle name is Albert. I you are interested E-mail me.

Reading accounts of the Battle of the Little Bighorn sometimes leaves a mass of confusion to the reader. Even visitation to the site does not always enable oneself to clearly picture the events of that day. This book, which does not attempt to explain why things happened does much to set the scene and completes the picture that is painted by the numerous accounts of what happened. The reader may find this book to be dry, perhaps repetitious in some place, but in the end, will appreciate the information that is provided. Be aware that reading this book will forever cause the reader to imediately reject any printed material on The Battle of the Bighorn, that is not properly (and correctly) researched. This book is a good reference for any library.

This is an excellent book because it cuts through the partisan pro Custer, anti Custer views that are the main theme in almost all the books about the battle written to date. I highly recommend all the books written by Fox on this subject because he has no pre conceived ideas or biases. He bases his interpretations on the physical evidence remaining at the site and draws his conclusions from that evidence.

I don't understand where most of these previous reviewers are coming from. This is not meant to be a "theory-book" on the battle of the Little Bighorn. All it is is as an "assessment of the 1984 field season" of archaeological work on the battlefield. As that it functions well, with complete descriptions of the recovered artifacts and many sketches and pictures. There are only about 15 pages about the way the battle itself went, and it just correlates the artifacts in a preliminary way to how the battle may have progressed. It's nothing to get upset over. As for the Kansas City reviewer, he must be on another planet. Kuhlman's work was not "ripped without mercy" in this book. As a matter of fact, I don't think Kuhlman was even mentioned at all.

More than half this book says absolutely nothing about community fishes.

The first section of this book repeats much of the same information one might find in any aquarium book -- heating, lighting and filtration, plants and layout, maintenance of equipment, feeding, etc. -- at a fairly general level. The main section of the book lists and describes sixty freshwater tropical fish that can be kept together in tropical tanks. There's nothing about compatibility between specific species, or how to include fish that are marginally community-oriented. There's nothing about water conditions for different fish, so a reader depending on this book might not even realize that some fish will do poorly in the same water that other fish thrive in. The last section of the book is about breeding -- again, nothing about "community."

For those who are interested in the "community" aspect of a community aquarium, this book is simply a list of sixty fish to choose from. For those who are setting up an aquarium for the first time, who want a random mix of fish, and who want to buy only one book, this could be the book.