New Titles

1) Murdy, Edward O. and John A. Musick. Field Guide to Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay. 2013. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 345 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: The only comprehensive field guide to the Chesapeake's fishes, this book is an indispensable resource for both anglers and students of the Bay. Vivid illustrations by Val Kells complement the expertise of researchers Edward O. Murdy and John A. Musick. They describe fishes that inhabit waters ranging from low-salinity estuaries to the point where the Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.
     Key features of this field guide include:

• full-color illustrations of more than 200 species
• text that is presented adjacent to illustrations for easy reference
• detailed descriptions of physical characteristics, range, occurrence in the Bay, reproduction, diet, and statistics from fisheries research
• spot illustrations that highlight critical features of certain fish
• illustrations of juveniles when they look different from adults
• appendices that include identification keys

Formatted as a compact field guide for students, scientists, researchers, and fishermen, Field Guide to Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay should be a standard passenger on any boat that plies the Chesapeake's waters.

RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with an interest in the fishes of the region.




2) Stewart, Amy. The Drunken Botanist: The Plants that Create the World's Great Drinks. 2013. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. Hardbound: 381 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Sake began with a grain of rice. Scotch emerged from barley, tequila from agave, rum from sugarcane, bourbon from corn. Thirsty yet? In The Drunken Botanist, Amy Stewart explores the dizzying array of herbs, flowers, trees, fruits, and fungi that humans have, through ingenuity, inspiration, and sheer desperation, contrived to transform into alcohol over the centuries.
     Of all the extraordinary and obscure plants that have been fermented and distilled, a few are dangerous, some are downright bizarre, and one is as ancient as dinosaurs—but each represents a unique cultural contribution to our global drinking traditions and our history.
     This fascinating concoction of biology, chemistry, history, etymology, and mixology—with more than fifty drink recipes and growing tips for gardeners—will make you the most popular guest at any cocktail party.
RECOMMENDATION: If you like the authors' other books, you should like this one!