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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Wild animals
Even the most delightful ducks can have a bad day . . . What's the
matter with Dick the Duck? He's usually so kind and friendly! But
today Dick got out on The Wrong Side of Bed. He feels humpy and
grumpy, cranky and cross. Can anyone help cheer him up? Luckily
Dick's friends rally round and shower him with kindness, and Dick
is soon back to his usual delightful self! This magnificently funny
rhyming story shows that even the most delightful ducks can have a
bad day. (And that's totally okay!) Children will adore this
hilarious rhyming story by the much-loved author of the PONGWIFFY
books Kaye Umansky is one of the funniest children's writers
around. This brilliant rhyming story is a joy to read aloud, and
has echoes of Dr Seuss Ben Mantle's superb colourful illustrations
bring every character to life. Each page is packed with fabulous,
funny details Full of warmth and humour, Dick the Delightful Duck
shows even the youngest children that it's okay not to be okay, and
how they can be a good friend
The second book by the bestselling author of Extraordinary Insects
Trees clean air and water; hoverflies and bees pollinate our crops;
the kingfisher inspired the construction of high-speed trains. In
Tapestries of Life, bestselling author Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
explains how closely we are all connected with the natural world,
highlighting our indelible link with nature's finely knit system
and our everyday lives. In the heart of natural world is a
life-support system like no other, a collective term that describes
all the goods and services we receive - food, fresh water,
medicine, pollination, pollution control, carbon sequestration,
erosion prevention, recreation, spiritual health and so much more.
In this utterly captivating book, Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson sets out
to explore these wonderful, supportive elements - taking the reader
on a journey through the surprising characteristics of the natural
world.
Our landscape has long been shaped by its native tree cover,
whether pine, oak, beech or birch. These habitats are full of life,
and you'll see many different bird species in all kinds of
woodlands throughout the year. But do you know a Nuthatch from a
Treecreeper? And can you tell the difference between a Goshawk and
a Common Buzzard when it's soaring overhead? The UK's woodlands are
home to a diverse collection of our most beautiful wild bird
species. RSPB ID Spotlight Woodland Birds is a reliable fold-out
chart that presents illustrations of 63 of our most widespread and
familiar woodland birds by renowned artist Stephen Message. *
Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with
identification * Artworks are shown side by side for quick
comparison and easy reference at home or in the field * The reverse
of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life
cycles and diets of our woodland birds, as well as the conservation
issues they are facing and how the RSPB is working to support them
* Information on research and conservation projects aimed at
improving habitats for vulnerable woodland birds is also included
The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and
learn more about our most common species using accurate colour
illustrations and informative, accessible text.
Whether you are out in the countryside or at work in the garden,
you might encounter several different kinds of caterpillars. The
larval stages of butterflies and moths, caterpillars come in many
shapes, sizes and colours, and each has its own particular charm.
But can you tell a Comma from a Small Tortoiseshell? Or distinguish
between the caterpillar of a Drinker and Fox Moth? These are only a
few of the hundreds of caterpillars found in the UK, many of which
are just as beautiful and varied as their adult counterparts. RSPB
ID Spotlight Caterpillars is a reliable fold-out chart that
presents illustrations of 60 of our most widespread and familiar
caterpillars by renowned artist Richard Lewington. * Species are
grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with
identification * Artworks are shown side by side for quick
comparison and easy reference at home or in the field * The reverse
of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life
cycles and diets of our caterpillars, as well as the conservation
issues they are facing and how the RSPB and other conservation
charities are working to support them * Practical tips on how to
make your garden more caterpillar-friendly are also included The ID
Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more
about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations
and informative, accessible text.
G. E. Rumphius, also known as the "Indian Pliny," was one of the
great tropical naturalists of the seventeenth century. Born in
Germany, he spent most of his life in the employ of the Dutch East
India Company, stationed on the island of Ambon in eastern
Indonesia. He wrote two major works; this one, the first modern
work on tropical fauna, was published posthumously in Dutch in
1705. A classic text of natural history, it is now available in
English for the first time.
The descriptions in "The Ambonese Curiosity Cabinet cover "the
gamut of organisms found in the seas surrounding Ambon--crabs,
shrimp, sea urchins, mussels--as well as minerals and rare
concretions taken from animals and plants. A series of exquisite
etchings accompanies the descriptions. The book has been
masterfully translated and extensively annotated by E. M. Beekman,
whose introduction provides the first biography of Rumphius in
English that incorporates new material.
Estimating abundance of wildlife is an essential component of a
wildlife research program, and a prerequisite for sound management.
With the exception of a few highly mathematical volumes, there are
no books on the subject for use by students and field workers.
Also, the various techniques for counting animals found in
scientific journals are often not accessible to African managers.
The unavailability of the diverse literature necessitated the
production of a textbook or field manual that covers the ground.
The book compiles the most relevant techniques for counting African
mammals, illustrated with many examples from the field. It provides
guidelines for selecting the appropriate methodology for a range of
conditions commonly found in the field, in terms of different
animal species, habitat types, and management objectives.
Sharks are ruthlessly efficient predators, the apex of 450 million
years of evolution. They are older than trees, have survived five
extinction events and are essential to maintaining balanced ocean
ecosystems, but how much do we really know about their lives? The
first book to reveal the hidden world of sharks, Emperors of the
Deep draws upon the latest scientific research to examine four
species in detail – mako, tiger, hammerhead and great white –
as never before. An eye-opening tour of shark habitats ranges from
the coral reefs of the Central Pacific where great whites
mysteriously congregate every autumn in what researchers call a
festival for sharks, to tropical mangrove forests where baby lemon
sharks play in social groups and to the frigid waters of the North
Atlantic, home to 400-year-old Greenland sharks, the world’s
longest-lived vertebrates. McKeever also traces the evolution of
the myth of the ‘man-eater’ and exposes the devastating effects
of the fishing industry on shark populations: In 2018 only four
people died in shark attacks while we killed 100 million sharks. At
once a journey through the misunderstood world of sharks and an
urgent call to protect them, Emperors of the Deep celebrates
these iconic predators that continue to capture our imagination –
and that desperately need our help to survive.
This is a handy little reference book that brings together
information that has also appeared in such periodicals as Cage
Birds and Cage Birds Annual. The emphasis is on preventative
measures rather than solely dealing with treatments and remedies.
The remedies that are included in this book are those that have
been tried and tested. Many of the earliest books, particularly
those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce
and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these
classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using
the original text and artwork. Contents Include Management of
Ailing Birds Diseases and Accidents Useful Remedial Agents Table of
Quantities Table of Proportions Seeking Expert Advice
100 SWEARY TEAR-OUT POSTCARDS TO DELIGHT YOUR NEAREST AND DEAREST,
FROM THE CREATOR OF EFFIN' BIRDS Ever since Effin' Birds first
appeared on social media, fans have been clamouring for a way to
deliver these lavishly illustrated profane messages in the real
world. Today is the day that their prayers and DMs are answered:
Greetings from Effin' Birds is a book of 100 tear-out postcards,
featuring new birds and new jokes, plus 100 absolutely true* Bird
Facts that will help you spot these fine avian creatures in your
everyday life. The bewildered gander wants to talk about how fucked
everything is... The fretful scaup wants to know how long this
bullshit is going to take... The rational sheldrake is losing its
fucking mind over here... and 97 more! *All 100 Bird Facts are
completely untrue.
Originally published in 1882, Snakes: Curiosities & Wonders of
Serpent Life, by naturalist and artist Catherine Hopley, is a
fascinating examination of the snake, from anatomy and biology, to
common myths, to individual species and habits, and even
speculation on "the great sea serpents." In the late 19th century,
snakes were considered mysterious, evil creatures, stained from the
sin in the Garden of Eden. Hopley's careful study shed new light on
creatures long-thought to be vicious and deadly. In a new
introduction, cryptozoologist Loren Coleman comments, "The mystery
of snakes and the passion many of us experience among the serpents
may seem commonplace enough today, but when this masterpiece
appeared over a hundred years ago, in 1882, it was a remarkable
event. The result was an interesting and scientifically insightful
book on the curiosities of serpent life. It mixed Hopley's keen
sense for observations and facts with her wonderful illustrations."
This new edition, a replica of the original 1882 edition and
complete with original illustrations, is part of Cosimo Classic's
Loren Coleman Presents series. LOREN COLEMAN is the author of
numerous books on cryptozoology, including Bigfoot : The True Story
of Apes in America and Mothman and Other Curious Encounters.
CATHERINE COOPER HOPLEY was an artist, author, and naturalist from
the late 19th century. She has written such titles as British
Reptiles and Batrachians (1888), Life in the South from the
Commencement of the War (1863), Stonewall Jackson (1863), and
Rambles and Adventures in the Wilds of the West(1872). She wrote
several natural history books and became known for her realistic
watercolor paintings, and her 1856 painting of the old stone church
in the Cleveland Public Square is in the Western Reserve Historical
Society in Cleveland, Ohio. LOREN COLEMAN is one of the world's
lead crypozoologist. In 1960 he started his fieldwork and after
years pursuing cryptozoological mysteries he began writing. He is
the author of numerous books of cryptozoology, including Bigfoot :
The True Story of Apes in America and Mothman and Other Curious
Encounters.
Fishermen, marine aquarists, biologists studying seashore and
coastal waters, and those involved in trading shellfish and even
restaurateurs are aware of the great diversity of crustaceans
inhabiting the seas around the British Isles, Northern Europe and
the Mediterranean. Crayfishes, Lobsters and Crabs of Europe will
enable the reader to identify 42 crustacean species of commercial
importance found in these regions during coastal explorations,
fishing trips, displayed in public aquaria or available in
restaurants, including selected freshwater crayfishes, deep-sea
species and some imported species. The book also includes sections
on the gross internal and external structure of these Crustacea,
their life histories, classification and nomenclature. The book is
of interest to students of marine biology and researchers in
fisheries science.
The study of coelenterates is now one of the most active fields of
invertebrate zoology. There are many reasons for this, and not
everyone would agree on them, but certain facts stand out fairly
clearly. One of them is that many of the people who study
coelenterates do so simply because they are interested in the
animals for their own sake. This, however, would be true for other
invertebrate groups and cannot by itself explain the current boom
in coelenterate work. The main reasons for all this activity seem
to lie in the considerable concentration of research effort and
funding into three broad, general areas of biology: marine ecology,
cellular-developmental biology and neurobiology, in all of which
coelenterates have a key role to play. They are the dominant
organisms, or are involved in an important way, in a variety of
marine habitats, of which coral reefs are only one, and this
automatically ensures their claims on the attention of ecologists
and marine scientists. Secondly, the convenience of hydra and some
other hydroids as experimental animals has long made them a natural
choice for a variety of studies on growth, nutrition, symbiosis,
morphogenesis and sundry aspects of cell biology. Finally, the
phylogenetic position of the coelenterates as the lowest metazoans
having a nervous system makes them uniquely interesting to those
neurobiologists and behaviorists who hope to gain insights into the
functioning of higher nervous systems by working up from the lowest
level.
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