1) Schlinger, Barney A.. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 225 pages. Price: $
Birds, hormones, and extraordinary behavior: The story of the tiny but mighty golden-collared manakin of Panama.
This book is the story of a remarkable bird, the golden-collared manakin (Manacus vitellinus)
of Panama. Males of this species perform one of the most elaborate,
physically complex, and noisy courtship displays of any animal on the
planet. Barney A. Schlinger delves into the specialized neurons,
muscles, bones, and hormonal systems underlying the manakin’s unique
courtship behavior, creating a rich life-history account that integrates
field observations and evolutionary biology with behavioral ecology,
anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and general ornithology.
The personal lives of investigators and the natural history of the
Panamanian rainforest provide context for this account of the bird's
fascinating behavior. Schlinger clearly and approachably explains basic
concepts in disciplines such as avian anatomy, endocrinology, sexual
differentiation, and the neurobiology of song and aeroacoustics,
offering readers a window into the biology of this exuberant bird.
RECOMMENDATION: A must read for anyone with an interest in these Neotropical birds.
2) Andrews, Donna. Minotaur Books. Hardbound: 298 pages. Price: $28.00 U.S.
Meg is relaxing in the hammock, taste-testing Michael’s latest
batch of Arnold Palmers and watching the hummingbirds at their feeders
when her hopes for a relaxing early summer morning are dashed.
First
her father recruits her to help him install a new batch of bees in the
hive in her backyard. Then Mayor Shiffley recruits her to placate the
NIMBYs (Not in my backyard), as she calls them – a group of newcomers to
Caerphilly who have built McMansions next door to working farms and
then do their best to make life miserable for the farmers. And finally
Meg’s grandmother, shows up, trailed by a nosy reporter who is writing a
feature on her for a genteel Southern ladies’ magazine.
Cordelia
drafts Meg to accompany her and Deacon Washington of the New Life
Baptist Church – and the reporter, alas – in their search for a
long-lost African-American cemetery. Unfortunately what they discover is
not an ancient cemetery but a fresh corpse. Can Meg protect her
grandmother – and Caerphilly – from the reporter who seems to see the
worst in everything . . . and help crack the case before the killer
finds another victim?
RECOMMENDATION: If you enjoyed the other titles in this series, you should enjoy this one!
3) Houlihan, Patrick. Oxbow Books. Paperback: 191 pages. Price: $
Hailed as a sumptuously produced and finely illustrated
outstanding contribution to ancient Egyptian studies, this facsimile
reprint of Patrick Houlihan’s 1986 comprehensive study makes a welcome
return in the Oxbow Classics in Egyptology series.
Animals of all
kinds are amply illustrated in Egyptian art, none more so than birds,
in both secular and religious contexts and in hieroglyphic scripts. A
great variety of bird species has for millennia made twice yearly
migrations passing over Egypt, which is also an important overwintering
area for many. These migrant birds, together with indigenous species
were an abundant and easily exploited source of food for ancient
Egyptians, for domestication and status display. Tomb scenes displaying
birds provided as food for the deceased are abundant, as are procession
scenes of offering with bearers bringing gifts of fowl. Many birds also
had religious associations. Houlihan provides a systematic and
unparalleled survey of all the bird life depicted by the ancient
Egyptians in art and hieroglyphic writing, some 72 species (plus bats),
with a list of known mummified species, and discussions on their
religious and secular associations and many illustrations. Their
present-day distributions are compared with that known from the time of
the Pharaohs. A checklist of the birds of modern Egypt is provided by
Steven Goodman.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must have for anyone with an interest in the history of ancient Egypt!
4) Jameson, Conor Mark. Pelagic Publishing. Paperback: 348 pages. Price: $
An imposing, life-size oil painting dominates the main meeting
room at the RSPB’s base in the heart of England: ‘the man above the
fireplace’ – always present, rarely mentioned. Curious about the person
in the portrait, the author began a quest to rediscover William Henry
Hudson (1841–1922). It became a mission of restoration: stitching back
together the faded tapestry of Hudson’s life, re-colouring it in places
and adding new threads from the testaments of his closest friends. This
book traces the unassuming field naturalist’s path through a dramatic
and turbulent era: from Hudson’s journey to Britain from Argentina in
1874 to the unveiling by the prime minister of a monument and bird
sanctuary in his honour 50 years later, in the heart of Hyde Park – a
place where the young immigrant had, for a time, slept rough. At its
core, this extraordinary story reveals Hudson’s deep influence on the
creation of his beloved Bird Society by its founding women, and the rise
of the conservation movement. It reveals the strange magnetism of this
mysterious man from the Pampas – unschooled, battle-scarred and once
penniless – that made his achievements possible, and left such a
profound impression on those who knew him.
By the end
of his life, Hudson had Hollywood studios bidding for his work. He was a
household name through his luminous and seminal nature writing, and the
Bird Society had at last reached the climax of a 30-year campaign,
working to create the first global alliance of bird protectionists. A
century after Hudson’s death, this is a long-overdue tribute to perhaps
our most significant – and most neglected – writer-naturalist and
wildlife campaigner.
RECOMMENDATION: A must read for anyone with an interest in British ornithological history.
5) Kaizar, Sarah and A. Scott Meiser. Mountaineers Books. Hardbound: 149 pages. Price: $
Rare Air, the culmination of
artist Sarah Kaizar’s dedication to illustrating endangered fauna,
features 66 endangered species of flight--33 birds, 5 bats, 12 bees, and
16 butterflies--presented in her scientifically accurate and utterly
engaging pen-and-ink style. Complementing the art are informative and
story-driven natural histories of each species by writer A. Scott
Meiser, as well as interviews with biologists who are working to sustain
some of the same species. An introduction highlights how Kaizar
developed this project, while the “How to Get Involved” appendix
provides helpful tips on actions readers can take to help these
creatures.
Kaizar’s work informs readers about the world around
them in a way that is beautiful and engaging, while also examining the
environmental conditions that put these species at risk. Rare Air broadens the conversation about environmental study and inspires readers across the country to care for our winged creatures.
RECOMMENDATION: Kaizar's artwork highlights this book!
6) LoMedico Marriott, Kate et al..
Ammonites are an extinct and charismatic lineage that persisted
for over 300 million years. They were used, with other fossils, to
corroborate the principle of faunal succession and launch the field of
biostratigraphy. Despite intense research, many important questions
remain unanswered. Furthermore, outdated hypotheses persist. Many new
findings include a better understanding of their appearance in life,
their locomotion, and their role in long-gone ecosystems. And, of
course, there are still controversies; e.g. why did shell complexity
increase during evolutionary history. This richly illustrated book
describes the full range of ammonoids and their fascinating evolutionary
history.
Key Features:
- Documents the early history of paleontology and the role played by ammonoids
- Describes the basic anatomy of a diverse and long-persisting lineage
- Summarizes the classification and diversity of ammonoids
- Lavishly illustrated with beautiful reconstructions
- Highlights recent findings and outstanding controversies
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must have for anyone with an interest in Ammonites!
7) Berta, Annalisa.
From the gregarious sea otter and playful dolphins to the sociable
narwhal and iconic polar bear, sea mammals are a large, diverse, and
increasingly precious group. In this book, Annalisa Berta, a leading
expert on sea mammals and their evolution, presents an engaging and
richly illustrated introduction to past and present species of these
remarkable creatures, from the blue whale and the northern fur seal to
the extinct giant sperm whale, aquatic sloth, and walking sea cow.
The
book features more than 50 individual species profiles, themed
chapters, stunning photographs, and specially commissioned
paleo-illustrations of extinct species. It presents detailed accounts of
these mammals’ evolutionary path, anatomy, behavior, habitats, and
conservation. And because these are key species that complete many food
chains and have the widest influence of all sea life, the book also
offers insights into a broad variety of marine worlds today and in the
future.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a well illustrated introduction to marine mammals.
8) Engelbrecht, Ian.
South Africa is home to an astonishing variety of scorpions, with
108 species in three families occurring in most of the region’s biomes,
from desert and grassland to fynbos, savanna and forest. Scorpions are
even found in urban gardens.
Field Guide to Scorpions of South Africa
is the first comprehensive guide to describe and illustrate all known
species in the country. The clear, detailed species accounts cover
appearance, habitat and behavior, and discuss the variation within
species according to region. Up-to-date distribution maps are included
for all species and exceptional photographs, carefully worked to show
astounding detail and vivid colors, bring to life the intricate
patterning and colors of different species. Both males and females are
presented, as well as a variety of color forms, facilitating accurate
identification in the field.
The introduction discusses scorpion
classification, anatomy, biology, behavior and habitat, as well as
venomosity and the treatment of stings. Tips on how and where to find
scorpions and how to contribute to their conservation as a citizen
scientist are also included. An invaluable tool for students,
researchers, academics, hikers and anyone with an interest in South
Africa’s rich and fascinating fauna.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must have for anyone with an interest in the region's scorpions!
Beolens, Bo et al. (editors). Whittles Publishing. Hardbound: 1463 pages. Price: $90.00 U.S.
The
Eponym Dictionary is a series of brief but concise biographies of all
those people after whom fish have been named in both the vernacular and
scientific names. It also covers names which seem to be eponyms but are
not, such as toponyms, names of organisations, ethnic groups, etc. It
also shows the networks of scientific collaboration, friendship or
patronage. Each species named after an individual is listed with their
authors and years for context and wherever possible it is shown how the
authors and the eponym are linked.
Every
effort has been made to be accurate and meticulous, and the book is also
a repository of biographical knowledge that will entertain as well as
inform. In conjunction with the other books it forms a database of
everyone named in a vertebrate. For ease of use, this volume is designed
as a dictionary, making it easy to find the person behind the name and,
in doing so, discover which fish commemorates them and learn something
of their lives and background.
Some brief
entries summarise whole volumes of biography, especially those honoured
in a name because of their standing in society rather than their
scientific behaviour. There is a vast range of derivations related not
just to scientists, zoologists and scholars, but also pop stars, TV and
film personalities and writers. There is a whole world of aquarists and
fish hobbyists, many of whom have been immortalised for adding to our
knowledge of tropical fish. The Eponym Dictionary of Fishes is a web of
relationships and connections, icons and idols.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must have for anyone with a serious interest in ichthyological nomenclature!
