very enjoyable boo

This book is a treasure for anyone with an interest in the puzzle that fascinated and terrified Darwin:- the origins of such an exquisitely-designed and multi-purpose structure as the eye.

In succinct and accessible prose, supplemented by 130 superb graphics and 16 colour plates, these two genius-savants of the world of eyeballs share 60 years of acquired wisdom about the breathtaking diversity of eyes on our planet, where even today new kinds of optical arrangements are being discovered in the eyes of different creatures.

Both authors have made numerous discoveries of new kinds of eyes and came together professionally when they independently discovered an image-forming system that uses mirrors instead lenses. In the book they share their extensive knowledge of eyes in a straight-talking and approachable way without talking down to the reader, yet without using specialist jargon. The clean graphics equal the text in weight and importance if one bears in mind the old adage about pictures being worth thousands of words, .......especially pictures like these, which cannot be drawn without a perfect understanding of the optical world being illustrated. Even if one has little knowledge of optics, the clear diagrams enable one to grasp the essential details of the different eye designs. There are also "boxes" outside the main text for those who would like added details about lens systems and optical design. Engineers may be interested to discover that different animals independently "invented" most of the optical designs currently being used in man-made devices, and that some discoveries, such as the box-mirror design without lenses, have been successfully used in industry after being inspired by the discoveries in animals of these two biologists.

The book sets the diversity of optical design into an evolutionary framework which helps to reduce the immensity of the puzzle with which Darwin originally grappled, while perhaps adding some new aspects. We still have some distance to go to understand the origins of many aspects of the diversity of eye design, particularly how multi-purpose eyes appeared that seem to combine, into the one design, all the specialized solutions seen in different animals . The book highlights such questions, and answers others, in a particularly clear way that may owe something to the authors' expertize with straight-tending paths of light.

The book is also very timely, given the vigorous current debate about the evolution of eyes and the possibility of a single "master gene" (pax6) that initiates the development of all kinds of eyes. This book is essential, fascinating reading for anyone interested in that debate if they are to be aware of the mind-boggling variety of eyes and optical systems involved. Even if that hot debate does not interest you, there is enormous satisfaction to be gained in contemplating these radically different solutions adopted by animals to image their worlds.

I enjoyed reading about the lives of these wolves. I only wish I could have been there. The books also contains some great photos.

A wonderful piece of work - but I would have preferred the genus Litoria to be split into the various genera that Wells and Wellington (1985) used, as it is just so much easier to understand the relationships of each from a zoogeographic point of view. Nevertheless, all good things come to those who ask often enough, so here's asking for a revised edition !

I have found this book very useful both in the field and in the museum. It represents an excellent feat of practical scholarship by Bonaccorso, with good keys, locality information (with maps), reference to specific museum specimens, and external measurements for all species from PNG, including the provinces in the Bismarcks and northern Solomons. It is not only a terrific synthesis of what is known of bat biology in the country, but also offers a large store of new information. Also extremely handy are the comprehensive gazetteer at the end with lat/long coordinates and the good bibliography. Fiona Reid's excellent color illustrations round out the guide.

This book is an outstanding guide to the marine life found along the shores of the Pacific Northwest. Before I go further, I should note that it is NOT a pocket guide. But if you slip it into a daypack, you will be amply rewarded. Dr. Niesen has written a book that in very clear language helps you identfy what you are looking at, learn about its life habits, and learn about its habitat. Its emphasis on habitats, and arrangement by type of organism within each habitat, is extremely helpful. The black and white photos are usually pretty good, although sometimes dark, but the section of color plates is really good. What are really outstanding are the line drawings--David Wood, the artist, really captures the organisms in a way that brings out details yet preserves the basic nature of the organism.

The book also gives a great (meaning clear yet not too simple) introduction to marine biology for the Pacific Northwest, explaining tides, currents, the origin of the coast , and the basic biology of the major groups (taxa) of organisms. Furthermore, he provides tips on beachcombing.

All in all, a very handy reference. I will consider it for my Marine Biology class for non-majors (I'd use it with a majors course, too, if I taught one!).

The amount of information in The Bird Almanac, and the diversity, is staggering, and there is far too much to cover in a short review. The information covers both birds and bird watching, starting with a complete checklist of the world's birds. There is a chart showing the suggested fossil history of birds. The sections on anatomy include not only the traditional bird diagram, but also labeled drawings of the skeleton, digestive system, brain, eyeball, feather tracts, and other systems. There are charts on heart rates, metabolic rates, hearing range, and number of taste buds in various species, and dozens of others in the physiographic section. There are also charts on wing loading, flight speed, daily flight distance, average altitudes of migrating birds, and the ability of birds to transport prey after capture. The mortality section includes charts on the relative occurrence of a long list of diseases and lists of threatened and endangered birds.

There is a section on biggest, smallest, longest, most traveled birds, etc. A section on who's who in bird biology and conservation includes not only the expected names, but important figures less well-known. Do you want to know who was president of the AOU in 1938, or any other year? Who are the recipients of the Elliot Coues Award? It's all here, as well as which teams have won the World Series of Birding and who has won the Duck Stamp competition. There is a section on resources for bird watchers that includes a list of the world's bird watching and ornithological organizations, with addresses, lists of Internet resources, a compilation of the world's bird watching magazines, lists of rare bird alerts, tour companies, CD ROMs, and on and on.

This is one of the most impressive, and useful, one-volume collection of information about birds and bird watching available anywhere. Readers will find themselves delving into it for pleasure over and over, and it will be one of the most frequently used references on the shelf. My copy is going on the shelf next to the Birder's Handbook and the small set of references that are my first line of defense whenever anyone asks a question or I need a quick answer. This book belongs in every bird watcher's library.-Eirik A.T. Blom

I am completely delighted with "The Little Guides" series. The format is extremely user friendly, and each guide is packed with useful and interesting information. I enjoy reading them, but my 6 year old daughter gives them the most use. While the guides are written at an adult level, there is plenty that she can read and understand. I currently own "Sharks," "Birds," "Mammals," "Space," "Whales," and "Flowers."

"Birds" contains two parts, the first covering the basics of birds, bird behavior, and bird and human interaction. Part two then gives information on about 250 different species of birds. The guide is richly illustrated and each entry contains information on the bird characteristics, feeding, reproduction, and habitat. This is a great book for car rides, having the children spot a bird and look it up in this guide.

This guide is packed with useful information, and is a great resource of adults as well as children!

Bison: Symbol of the American West is a book that has it all: graphs, maps, charts, photographs, and tons of information. Whether you are looking for a pleasure read or a reference work, this book has you covered. If you want a conversation sparker, place this one on your coffee table when you are expecting company.

I fell in love with the photography! There are so many 5 X 8" photographs that are ideal for matting and framing in barn board that I am ordering a second book. If you love to decorate your home with wilderness and nature pictures, you might consider doing the same. You can cover an entire wall with gorgeous pictures for only $$.

Michael Sample has an easy-to-understand writing style that is picturesque and even romantically poetic at times. As he describes the bison and their surroundings, you will visualize the scene with clarity. This writer can take you on a scenic trip through the bison country with ease!

Sample introduces the reader to the bison and thoroughly explains the three types of bison, including the controversies surrounding them. He documents the history of the bison and how humans have affected them. He explains the entire annual cycle of the bison and takes us through their seasonal changes.

Roughly half of the book is dedicated to describing the current public herds and the national parks where they are maintained. These listings give the statistics for the park, such as total acreage and number of bison in the herd. The ecosystem and any microclimates are discussed, along with the history of the area.

This book would be ideal for a student. It breaks down the scientific data on bison into simple terms, while providing a thorough overall picture of their past, present, and future. For nature lovers, it is a must have!

Alicia Karen Elkins, Editor, Columnist, & Reviewer

The book contains excellent colour pictures of the Australian Butterflies, including BW plates under the species texts which are really useful. The text contains upto date information under the species accounts, but the general biology chapters remain similar to Common & waterhouse, with a few new inclusions, such as a section on photography. The book is esential for all with an interest in Australian Butterflies.