Dr. Andrew Root's search for the canine soul began the day his eight-year-old son led the family in a moving Christian ritual at the burial service for Kirby, their beloved black lab. In the coming weeks, Root found himself wondering: What was this thing we'd experienced with this animal? Why did the loss hurt so poignantly? Why did his son's act seem so right in its sacramental feel? In 'The Grace of Dogs', Root draws on biology, history, theology, cognitive ethology (the study of animal minds), and paleontology to trace how in our mutual evolution, humans and dogs have so often helped each other to become more fully ourselves. Root explores questions like: Do dogs have souls? Is it accurate to say that dogs 'love' us? What do psychology and physiology say about why we react to dogs in the way that we do? 'The Grace of Dogs' paints a vivid picture of how, beyond sentimentality, the dog-human connection can legitimately be described as 'spiritual'--as existing not for the sake of gain, but for the unselfish desire to be with and for the other, and to remind us that we are persons worthy of love and able to share love. In this book for any parent whose kids have asked if they'll see Fido in Heaven, or who has looked their beloved dog in the face and wondered what's going on in there, Dr. Root delivers an illuminating and heartfelt read that will change how we understand man's best friend.

When viewed from a quiet beach, the ocean, with its rolling waves and vast expanse, can seem calm, even serene. But hidden beneath the sea's waves are a staggering abundance and variety of active creatures, engaged in the never-ending struggles of life--to reproduce, to eat, and to avoid being eaten.
With "Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime," marine scientist Ellen Prager takes us deep into the sea to introduce an astonishing cast of fascinating and bizarre creatures that make the salty depths their home. From the tiny but voracious arrow worms whose rapacious ways may lead to death by overeating, to the lobsters that battle rivals or seduce mates with their urine, to the sea's masters of disguise, the octopuses, Prager not only brings to life the ocean's strange creatures, but also reveals the ways they interact as predators, prey, or potential mates. And while these animals make for some jaw-dropping stories--witness the sea cucumber, which ejects its own intestines to confuse predators, or the hagfish that ties itself into a knot to keep from suffocating in its own slime--there's far more to Prager's account than her ever-entertaining anecdotes: again and again, she illustrates the crucial connections between life in the ocean and humankind, in everything from our food supply to our economy, and in drug discovery, biomedical research, and popular culture.
Written with a diver's love of the ocean, a novelist's skill at storytelling, and a scientist's deep knowledge, "Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime" enchants as it educates, enthralling us with the wealth of life in the sea--and reminding us of the need to protect it.

Beihefte zum Tubinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients, Reiche A/27, 1987. Tubingen.

The Natural History of the Doucs and Snub-nosed Monkeys provides a comprehensive introduction to the biology of some of the rarest and least-known nonhuman primates. Virtually unstudied and unknown until 20 years ago, the doucs and snub-nosed monkeys occupy some of the most remote habitats of eastern Asia and exhibit some of the most unusual adaptations of any nonhuman primates. The volume provides detailed information on these rare Asian primates that will be useful to practitioners of evolutionary biology, field and laboratory primatology, systematics, field ecology, and conservation biology.

The bears of the world are among the most studied, and most loved, of all wild creatures. From the polar bear of the Arctic to the grizzlies of Yellowstone and the black bears that roam our woodlands, bears never fail to delight the amateur naturalist or fascinate the scientific observer. Here, in a single volume, THE GREAT BEAR ALMANAC collects what is known about the world's bears, presenting in words, pictures, maps, and charts a complete factual compendium of bear knowledge. Virtually everything known about bears is touched upon in this remarkably entertaining book. Part I, "Bears in Their World, " discusses where bears are found throughout the world, with notes on population estimates and detailed maps. A full section on anatomy and physiology discusses distinguishing features among bear species, details on the skull, teeth, claws and other bear parts, how well bears hear and see, and much more. Another section investigates hibernation, intelligence, feeding, play, and other behavioral traits. Part II, "Bears in the Human World, " examines the wide range of ways in which bears and human beings intersect: bears in myth and religion, in art, literature, and film, and above all, in real life - bear attacks, human encroachment on bear habitat, governmental regulations on bears, trafficking in bear parts by poachers, a summary of current bear research, and much more. A concluding chapter looks at future prospects for the bears of the world, and offers guidelines for how all those who admire bears can help protect these great and majestic creatures.

The word raccoon is drawn from the Native American Algonquian language. Their term arakun roughly translates to "he who scratches with his hands." Anyone who has found a raccoon rummaging around in a once securely closed trash container can attest to how skillful raccoons are with their front paws. In fact, they have four times as many sensory receptors in their forepaw skin as they do in their hind-paws -- a ratio similar to that of human hands and feet. Samuel Zeveloff explores this trait and much more in his accessible natural history of raccoons.

Written with the general reader in mind, Raccoons presents detailed information on raccoon evolution, physical characteristics, social behavior, habitats, food habits, reproduction, and conservation, as well as their relationship with humans and many other topics. The section on distribution and subspecies focuses on the raccoon's current range expansion and the material on their cultural significance demonstrates this mammal's unique status in different North American cultures.

Raccoons includes 28 illustrations and is sure to become the standard work on this wide-ranging species.

A vivid exploration of the reintroduction of the Mexican wolf to the American Southwest. Lobos, or Mexican wolves, once roamed freely throughout Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas until they were hunted to extinction when big cattle interests came to the Southwest. Now, a Mexican wolf introduction - similar to the Yellowstone efforts for its cousin the gray wolf - is underway in Arizona. But cattle have overgrazed the fragile land, damaging the ecosystem that barely sustains their vast numbers. With literary talent and a naturalist's sensibility, Rick Bass examines the circumstances of the Mexican wolves. Part meditation, part probing journalism, The New Wolves is an important new chapter in the drama of wolves and the American West.

No wild animal captures the spirit of North America quite so powerfully as the wild horse - nor has any faced such diverse and potent enemies. In this provocative account, Hope Ryden - who helped to ensure the passage of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act, which grants mustangs special protection - combs the history of these proud and noble horses. Descended from the Spanish horses riden by the conquistadors, they evolved into the tough and intelligent ponies that Indians - and later, explorers and cowboys - learned to rely on. From the period when wholesale extermination of the buffalo was underway until recent times, commercial and political interests have sought to eliminate the wild horses as varmints. In the latest update to this classic story, Ryden tells of the successes and failures in the last ten years of regulation, and has added stunning new color photographs. The subject of a front-page article in The New York Times when it was first published, America's Last Wild Horses continues to be a compelling testament to the life of a uniquely American symbol of grace and wildness, and is a must read for horse lovers and Western history enthusiasts everywhere. (6 X 9, 360 pages, color photos, b&w photos)