Biological literature of the Roman imperial period remains somehow 'underestimated'. It is even quite difficult to speak of biological literature for this period at all: biology (apart from medicine) did not represent, indeed, a specific 'subgenre' of scientific literature. Nevertheless, writings as disparate as Philo of Alexandria's Alexander, Plutarch's De sollertia animalium or Bruta ratione uti, Aelian's De Natura Animalium, Oppian's Halieutika, Pseudo-Oppian's Kynegetika, and Basil of Caeserea's Homilies on the Creation engage with zoological, anatomic, or botanical questions. Poikile Physis examines how such writings appropriate, adapt, classify, re-elaborate and present biological knowledge which originated within the previous, mainly Aristotelian, tradition. It offers a holistic approach to these works by considering their reception of scientific material, their literary as well as rhetorical aspects, and their interaction with different socio-cultural conditions. The result of an interdisciplinary discussion among scholars of Greek studies, philosophy and history of science, the volume provides an initial analysis of forms and functions of biological literature in the imperial period.

Most of the islands of the Caribbean have long histories of herpetological exploration and discovery, and even longer histories of human-mediated environmental degradation. Collectively, they constitute a major biodiversity hotspot - a region rich in endemic species that are threatened with extinction. This two-volume series documents the existing status of herpetofaunas (including sea turtles) of the Caribbean, and highlights conservation needs and efforts. Previous contributions to West Indian herpetology have focused on taxonomy, ecology and evolution, particularly of lizards. This series provides a unique and timely review of the status and conservation of all groups of amphibians and reptiles in the region. This volume introduces the issues particularly affecting Caribbean herpetofaunas, and gives an overview of evolutionary and taxonomic patterns influencing their conservation. Chapters focus on groups that have been relatively neglected in the Caribbean: amphibians and snakes. A major chapter describes the problem of invasive species of amphibians and reptiles in the West Indies. Three chapters then deal with islands of the Wider Caribbean that share many of the same problems but fall outside the West Indies biogeographic region: the Atlantic islands of the Bermuda group; the Dutch continental shelf islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire, and the Neotropical islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The book will be useful to biologists and conservationists working in or visiting the Caribbean, and internationally as a summary of the current situation in this diverse and important region.

The book presents new and stimulating approaches to the study of language evolution and considers their implications for future research. Leading scholars from linguistics, primatology, anthroplogy, and cognitive science consider how language evolution can be understood by means of inference from the study of linked or analogous phenomena in language, animal behaviour, genetics, neurology, culture, and biology. In their introduction the editors show how these approaches can be interrelated and deployed together through their use of comparable forms of inference and the similar conditions they place on the use of evidence. The Evolutionary Emergence of Language will interest everyone concerned with this intriguing and important subject, including those in linguistics, biology, anthropology, archaeology, neurology, and cognitive science.

This is the perfect chance to immerse yourself in the uplifting sounds of a perfect country morning, from the comfort of your own home. At dawn, in our countryside, there is a pronounced peak in bird singing activity. This is especially noticeable for about an hour after the first light in temperate zone woodlands during spring and early summer. At this time, male birds defend their territories and attract females with their songs. The recordings on this CD are a selection of British woodland recordings, taken from the extensive collection of the wildlife section of the British Library sound archive.

This version of the book is fully illustrated and contains over a hundred photographs in black & white. Moths of the Limberlost is a fascinating book written by the well-known American novelist and photographer Gene Stratton-Porter. It paints a vibrant picture of her delight in the moths as she loves, cares for, breeds and studies the creatures. The first chapter is an introduction and the second is an overview of the natural history of moths, however, it is only marginally technical and she interweaves the chapter with her own experiences. In the final thirteen chapters she focuses on one moth per chapter, the moths that have most caught her interest. It is partly an autobiography as she describes her experiences from childhood - her delights and joys at successfully breeding them or learning something new about them and her sadness when they die or don't breed. It describes her family's help in this passion and the friends she gained through the pursuit. It is a beautiful window into the person she was and her love of nature.

The Inside Out of Flies is a look under the bonnet at the astonishing mechanics of fly anatomy. Erica McAlister reveals the engineering miracles embodied in numerous species of fly and some of the fascinating implications they hold for human technology. Discover the physics of the mysterious 'scuba diving fly', marvel at the venomous horse fly larvae which prey on frogs, and glimpse the golden ratio in these creatures' spiral flight patterns. McAlister touches on the emerging field of biomimetics - the study of evolutionary adaptations to devise new technology - and anticipates everything from medical needles based on the mosquito's proboscis to hearing aids inspired by Ormia ochracea, a tiny fly with ears on its thorax. At every juncture she uncovers unique and surprising science lessons encapsulated in the form and function of the humble fly.

"Advances in the Study of Behavior" was initiated over 40 years ago to serve the increasing number of scientists engaged in the study of animal behavior. That number is still expanding. This volume makes another important "contribution to the development of the field" by presenting theoretical ideas and research to those studying animal behavior and to their colleagues in neighboring fields. "Advances in the Study of Behavior" is now available online at ScienceDirect full-text online from volume 30 onward.

This volume honours an outstanding Japanese carcinologist, Masatsune Takeda (National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan), on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Since 1967, Takeda-sensei ("sensei" is an honourific term for teacher or senior scientist in Japan) has devoted his life to studying the taxonomy of Brachyura and has published 323 papers over a long and illustrious career, and in the process, described 231 new taxa. In this volume, a total of 24 papers have been put together by 40 of his friends and colleagues to honour him. These papers cover a wide diversity of topics on the taxonomy, larval biology, palaeontology and ecology of Brachyura, Caridea, Stenopodidea, Astacidea, Axiidea, Anomura, Amphipoda, Isopoda and Mysida, all groups that Takeda-sensei loved.