Species evolve over time to become perfectly adapted to their environments, right?Well, sometimes. Consider that an elephant will not grow a seventh set of teeth, even though wearing down the sixth will condemn it to starvation; that hosts of the European cuckoo seem unable to tell that the overgrown monster in their nest is not their own chick; and that whales are fully aquatic mammals who, millions of years after first abandoning the land, still cannot breathe underwater. This book is about evolution, but not its greatest hits. Instead, it explores everything in the animal kingdom that is self-defeating, ill-made, uneconomical, or downright weird – and explains how natural selection has favoured it. In the grand struggle for survival, some surprising patterns emerge: animals are always slightly out-of-date; inefficiency tends to increase over time; predators usually lose, and parasites usually win. With equal parts humour and scientific insight, Andy Dobson is here to explain the how and why of evolution’s limits and liabilities.

Centuries before railroads, Sharp's rifles, and Buffalo Bill Cody, buffalo roaming east of the Mississippi River wre hunted by Indians, Spanish, French, and English explorers, as well as colonists, Long Hunters, and American settlers. By the 1820s, the eastern buffalo herds were gone, and much of the wild cow's habitat had been radically altered. The Long Hunt is the first book to deal solely with the buffalo that once ranged from east of the Blue Ridge to the waters of the Mississippi.

The Bowerbird is the irresistible tale of Bert - a small bird with a very big heart, from Number One bestselling Julia Donaldson and Kate Greenaway Medal-winning Catherine Rayner. Bert the bowerbird is looking for love. He has made the most perfect bower, complete with a pretty purple flower, and is hoping it will help him to meet the bird of his dreams. But when Nanette comes along, she is far from impressed. Poor Bert is hurt, and flies off to bring her presents a-plenty. But will it ever be enough, and is Nanette really right for Bert? A beautifully illustrated treat of a book from the creators of The Go-Away Bird.

The birds of Maine are as fascinating as the landscapes they inhabit. This clear, concise guide provides maps to the best birding spots, as well as information on where and when certain species are likely to be seen.

Here's a helpful, easy-to-read guide that turns beachcombing into exciting expeditions for discovering the marvelous beach creatures and dynamic shore features from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. It is a must for anyone visiting the beaches between these two locales because it simply and clearly describes the creatures and natural forces that make the beach so much fun.

The text is complimented by new fine digital drawings and cartoons by Guy Troughton. This edition also features a gallery of extraordinary images by renowned wildlife photographer Frank Greenaway.

This book takes the reader to almost 200 parks, refuges, and hot spots for migratory and resident birds throughout Pennsylvania. Details on 7 geographical regions including 34 maps make this the most comprehensive, statewide guide available to Pennsylvania birding sites.

Cape Peninsula Birdlife breaks new ground: it provides residents of, and visitors to, the Cape Peninsula with information where particular birds may be found, and why and how they occur where they do. Superbly illustrated with photographs by some of South Africa’s premier photographers, readers will gain an appreciation of the extraordinarily rich natural history of the Cape Peninsula. More than 80 bird species; over 200 colour photographs; 18 bird routes; night birds; easy cross referencing; fits in pocket/rucksack.

‘Steve Brusatte, the author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, brings mammals out from the shadow of their more showy predecessors in a beautifully written book that . . . makes the case for them as creatures who are just as engaging as dinosaurs.’ – The Sunday Times, ‘Best Books For Summer’ 'In this terrific new book, Steve Brusatte . . . brings well-known extinct species, the sabre-toothed tigers and the woolly mammoths, thrillingly back to life' – The Times The passing of the age of the dinosaurs allowed mammals to become ascendant. But mammals have a much deeper history. They – or, more precisely, we – originated around the same time as the dinosaurs, over 200 million years ago; mammal roots lie even further back, some 325 million years. Over these immense stretches of geological time, mammals developed their trademark features: hair, keen senses of smell and hearing, big brains and sharp intelligence, fast growth and warm-blooded metabolism, a distinctive line-up of teeth (canines, incisors, premolars, molars), mammary glands that mothers use to nourish their babies with milk, qualities that have underlain their success story. Out of this long and rich evolutionary history came the mammals of today, including our own species and our closest cousins. But today’s 6,000 mammal species - the egg-laying monotremes including the platypus, marsupials such as kangaroos and koalas that raise their tiny babies in pouches, and placentals like us, who give birth to well-developed young – are simply the few survivors of a once verdant family tree, which has been pruned both by time and mass extinctions. In The Rise and Reign of the Mammals, palaeontologist Steve Brusatte weaves together the history and evolution of our mammal forebears with stories of the scientists whose fieldwork and discoveries underlie our knowledge, both of iconic mammals like the mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers of which we have all heard, and of fascinating species that few of us are aware of. For what we see today is but a very limited range of the mammals that have existed; in this fascinating and ground-breaking book, Steve Brusatte tells their – and our – story.

Winner of the Marsh Book of the Year Award (2015) Throughout British history rivers have been of profound economic, social and cultural importance - yet as we see with increasing frequency they have the potential to wreak great destruction. This book describes the natural and not-so-natural changes that have affected British rivers since the last ice age and looks at the many plants and animals that live along, above and within them. Detailed case studies of the Meon, Dee and Endrick illustrate the incredibly varied nature of our river ecosystems, and the natural and human factors that make each one different. Written by two widely respected river ecologists, the book looks not only at rivers as they were and are but also at how they can be managed and cared for. Full of interesting facts and stunning images, Rivers is essential reading for anyone professionally involved in rivers and for the naturalist, conservationist and layman alike. It is the one book you need to understand this singularly important and often contentious feature of the British landscape.

In this text, ornithologist John Terres explains the process by which eagles, hawks, hummingbirds, and other birds fly, soar and hover.

-- For backyard gardeners or serious naturalists
-- A complete source for information about which plants grow best in nearshore environments
-- Characteristics of each plant, including form, flower and fruit date, geographic distribution, habitat, reproduction, and propagation
-- Ornamental, medicinal, toxic, physical, edible, and ecological aspects of each plant, covering modern uses and folkloric beliefs

Manatees are among nature's strangest-looking, gentlest animals. They're among America's most endangered mammals and were the basis for ancient tales of mermaids, legendary creatures that were half-fish and half-human.

This book takes into consideration training the gaited horse for the trail or the rail for a show horse. The book is a detailed look at the gaits of the Tennessee Walking Horse, Missouri Fox Trotter, and the Rocky Mountain Horse. More importantly the book teaches you a training program that is easy to follow for a smooth easy gaited horse. You will have a complete understanding of the gaits and problem solving at your fingertips. No matter what your training goal are, trail riding or showing. This book will help you understand gaits, training and retraining for a great gaited horse. Consider your horse natural ability and train to a sound standard that matches that ability. Teaching your horse to flat foot walk is fun and easy following the method described in this book. Enjoy the journey be safe and have fun.

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the most commonly seen species in Britain and Europe. Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including notes on appearance, colour and distinctive features, and information on juveniles, range and habitat, nests, call and breeding sites. In addition, an extensive introduction covers general information on plumage, habitats and migration, and gives first-time birdwatchers advice on what equipment to buy and where to go to spot the most desirable species. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, covering over 200 species of bird found in Britain and Europe.

Inside you will find that I have tried to create a guide for the general dog owner. It is not intended to create a show dog or an award-winning dog, but to give you the groundwork, if that is your desire. This book is intended to help in choosing your dog, understanding your dog, training your dog in basic obedience, and accomplishing some of the general skills that are needed to be a successful dog owner. Dogs are living, loving creatures that make every effort to understand humans and try to please us by fitting into our pack. If you want the bond often seen with some other dog owners, you have to make an effort to understand the dog.