New Titles

                                                                              
1) Hilmarsson, Johann Oli. Icelandic Bird Guide (2nd edition). 2011. Mal Og Menning. Paperback: 341 pages. Price: $59.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: This new edition of the popular Icelandic Bird Guide has been completely revised and expanded. It covers all Icelandic breeding birds and regular visitors in detail and also describes numerous annual vagrants – more than 160 species in total.
     This book is an ideal identification guide when travelling around Iceland for experienced birdwatchers and beginners alike. The clear and concise text describes the birds’ appearance and behaviour, as well their diet and habitat. Maps and diagrams clearly show distribution, movements and population sizes. The book contains:

*More than 700 stunning photos
*Breeding range and winter distribution maps
*Diagrams showing information on breeding and migration
*Photographs of eggs shown in actual size

RECOMMENDATION: A must have for birders with an interest in Iceland! This title is available from Buteo Books here: http://www.buteobooks.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BBBAO&Product_Code=12503&Category_Code=

2) Tomelleri, Joseph R. and Mark E. Eberle. Fishes of the Central United States (Second edition, revised and expanded). 2011. University Press of Kansas. Paperback: 192 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: This is the greatly-expanded second edition of a book that has been hailed by In-Fisherman as “magnificent . . . the finest, most comprehensive book on the fishes of the central United States.” Featuring the artwork of nationally acclaimed fish illustrator Joseph Tomelleri, it bridges the gap between technical studies and popular field guides in a volume that is indispensable for anglers and naturalists alike.
     Working with Prismacolor, graphite pencils, and painstaking attention to scientifically precise detail, Tomelleri showcases his ability with stunning illustrations that are both technically and aesthetically satisfying, while also capturing subtle variations among fishes that the camera lens misses. In this new edition he depicts 250 fishes, including 87 appearing for the first time (a more than 50% increase over the original edition), found in 21 states from the Great Lakes in the north through the Mississippi Valley to the southern tip of Texas, and west to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and Rio Grande.
     Tomelleri teams up once again with Mark Eberle to provide keen insights into the ecology, natural history, and conservation of these fishes and the types of threats they face. Species accounts are informative but not technical, and are interwoven with folklore and anecdotes.
RECOMMENDATION: The artwork highlights this book! A must have for anyone with an interest in the fishes of this region.

3) Helfman, Gene and Bruce Collette. Fishes: The Animal Answer Guide. 2011. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 178 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Fishes range in size from tiny gobies to the massive Ocean Sunfish, which weighs thousands of pounds. They live in just about every body of water on the planet. Ichthyologists Gene Helfman and Bruce Collette provide accurate, entertaining, and sometimes surprising answers to over 100 questions about these water dwellers, such as "How many kinds of fishes are there?" "Can fishes breathe air?" "How smart are fishes?" and "Do fishes feel pain?" They explain how bony fishes evolved, the relationship between them and sharks, and why there is so much color variation among species. Along the way we also learn about the Devils Hole Pupfish, which has the smallest range of any vertebrate in the world; Lota lota, the only freshwater fish to spawn under ice; the Candiru, a pencil-thin Amazonian catfish that lodges itself in a very personal place on male bathers and must be removed surgically; and many other curiosities.
     With more than 100 photographs—including two full-color photo galleries—and the most up-to-date facts on the world's fishes from two premier experts, this fun book is the perfect bait for any curious naturalist, angler, or aquarist.
RECOMMENDATION: A good general introduction to fish biology.