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The Snake Scientist
by Sy MontgomeryDiscusses the work of Bob Mason and his efforts to study and protect snakes, particularly red-sided garter snakes. For children.
The Snake and the Salamander: Reptiles and Amphibians from Maine to Virginia
by Alvin R. BreischA beautifully illustrated tour of the region’s snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders.Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award of the NOBA Foundation (Nature and Environment Category)In the best tradition of natural history writing and art, The Snake and the Salamander explores the diverse collection of reptiles and amphibians that inhabit the northeastern quadrant of the United States. Covering 13 states that run from Maine to Virginia, author Alvin R. Breisch and artist Matt Patterson showcase the lives of 83 species of snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders. These intriguing animals are organized by habitat and type, from forest to grassland to bogs to big waters, and revealed through a combination of Breisch’s engaging prose and Patterson’s original color illustrations. Breisch’s guided tour combines historical notes and conservation issues with lessons on genetics, evolution, habitats, life histories, and more. Discover how careful attention to frog calls coupled with DNA analysis led to the discovery of a new species of frog in New York City, why evolutionary adaptations made the Eastern Ratsnake a superb climber, and the surprising fact that Spiny Softshell turtles actually sprint on land to retreat from predators. Breisch also tells the odd tale of the Green Frog and the Smooth Greensnake, two "green species" that do not actually have any green pigment in their skin. Every species has a story to tell—one that will keep the reader wanting to learn more.The breadth of herpetofauna in the area will surprise many readers: more than 8% of the world’s salamanders and 11% of all turtle species live in the region. Beyond numbers, however, lie aesthetics. The surprising colors and fascinating lifestyles of the reptile and amphibian species in this book will mesmerize readers young and old.
The Snake and the Salamander: Reptiles and Amphibians from Maine to Virginia
by Alvin R. BreischA beautifully illustrated tour of the region’s snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders.In the best tradition of natural history writing and art, The Snake and the Salamander explores the diverse collection of reptiles and amphibians that inhabit the northeastern quadrant of the United States. Covering thirteen states that run from Maine to Virginia, author Alvin R. Breisch and artist Matt Patterson showcase the lives of 83 species of snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders. These intriguing animals are organized by habitat and type, from forest to grassland to bogs to big waters, and revealed through a combination of Breisch’s engaging prose and Patterson’s original color illustrations.Breisch’s guided tour combines historical notes and conservation issues with lessons on genetics, evolution, habitats, life histories, and more. Discover how careful attention to frog calls coupled with DNA analysis led to the discovery of a new species of frog in New York City, why evolutionary adaptations made the Eastern Ratsnake a superb climber, and the surprising fact that Spiny Softshell turtles actually sprint on land to retreat from predators. Breisch also tells the odd tale of the Green Frog and the Smooth Greensnake, two “green species” that do not actually have any green pigment in their skin. Every species has a story to tell?one that will keep the reader wanting to learn more.The breadth of herpetofauna in the area will surprise many readers: more than 8% of the world’s salamanders and 11% of all turtle species live in the region. Beyond numbers, however, lie aesthetics. The surprising colors and fascinating lifestyles of the reptile and amphibian species in this book will mesmerize readers young and old.Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award of the NOBA Foundation (Nature and Environment Category)“The breadth of herpetofauna in the area will surprise many readers: more than 8% of the world’s salamanders and 11% of all turtle species live in the region. Beyond numbers, however, lie aesthetics. The surprising colors and fascinating lifestyles of the reptile and amphibian species in this book will mesmerize readers young and old.” —The Birdbooker Report“While most field guides are organized by species, this book is more than a field guide; it places the animals in the context of their environment.” —The Altamont Enterprise
The Snakebite Survivors' Club: Travels Among Serpents
by Jeremy SealTravel writer Seal determined to overcome his phobia about snakes by journeying to America, Australia, Africa, and India in search of some the world's most notorious and deadly snakes and to meet the people who live with them. He found others like him living in constant fear, witch doctors who use snakes as instruments of vengeance, and a case of murder by rattlesnake in the southern US. He also cites scientific facts.
The Snakes of Ontario
by E.B.S. LogierMany people have a great fear of snakes. This fear affects their peace of mind, their enjoyment of a holiday in the country, and even their pleasure in their own suburban gardens. It leads to the senseless destruction of one of our valuable natural resources. The morbid fear of snakes can only be dispelled by learning the true facts about these fascinating creatures. This book is addressed to anyone who wishes to learn about the natural history of snakes, or to identify those found in Ontario, but the author speaks particularly to young people, who, unless they have been prejudiced, have a natural interest in all living things. In an easy, conversational manner, the author gives a general account of snakes--what they are, how they travel, their instinct and intelligence, how they feed, their reproduction, hiberation, shedding of the skin, defences usefulness--and discusses popular beliefs and fear of snakes. The separate species are fully described in a simple, non-technical and readable style. The author is also an artist, and the book is illustrated with his own wash drawings and line sketches. There are two beautiful colour plates. Distribution maps show the range of species. For those wishing to pursue the study of snakes more fully, an appendix provides a list of snakes with scientific names, a key for the identification of the snakes, directions for determining their sex, directions for collection and preserving, directions for determining their sex, directions for keeping snakes as pets, diagrams giving anatomical names of parts of snakes, a glossary, and a concise and up-to-date outline of rattlesnake bite and first aid treatment.
The Sneaky Snow Fox (Fiercely and Friends)
by Patricia Reilly GiffThe endearing new chapter book series by two-time Newbery Honor Book author Patricia Reilly Giff.Take one girl with a big imagination.Add one frisky dog with a nose for trouble.And get ready for an irresistible adventure!Fiercely has run away again. And Jilli is sure that the fox from her favorite book is loose in her neighborhood! Now Jilli and her best friend, Jim, must find Fiercely and save him from the fox! Will they make it in time?Two-time Newbery Honor Book author Patricia Reilly Giff and veteran illustrator Diane Palmisciano have created a charming book filled with "shivery" fun and delicious surprises!
The Snoddy and the Sheeshoo
by Jason Clive DanielsIn a land far away in the middle of the sea, there live creatures who look a bit odd you’ll agree. On a tropical island they all spend their days, having fun and adventures down in Isaac Bay. Under the sun and in front of the cliffs, two best friends decide to settle a rift. Their plight attracts onlookers keen to observe, how it unfolds – will they both keep their nerve? A tale of endeavour, of chance and hard work, a test of their mettle sends the large crowd berserk. Reputations at stake, adulation to win, come along on their journey, turn the page, let’s begin.
The Snot That Animals Have Got
by Paul MasonWhat is snot? How is it useful? What do animals do with it? Why is there so much? Find out the science behind the green goo and it's fascinating uses in the animal kingdom with this gross-filled guide!Highly accessible text from expert non-fiction author Paul Mason combines with fun photographs and highly amusing artwork from Tony De Saulles to create a visual feast of information. Extra facts are packed into the back of the book so you can top trump friends on your snot knowledge!Full of scientific facts, it's also a perfect teaching tool for curious minds aged 7+Other unmissable books in this yuk-filled series:The Poo that Animals DoThe Wee that Animals PeeThe Farts that Animals Parp
The Snow Champion
by Norman Bridwell Steve Haefele Carol Pugiano-MartinAfter the first snowstorm, it's time for a big snowball fight! But T-Bone is not as excited as his friends.
The Snow Day
by Komako SakaiThe best snow day book since Ezra Jack Keats's THE SNOWY DAY...A young rabbit wakes up to wonderful news: A snow day! School is canceled, and the day that follows is rich with the magic and delight of the falling snow. And yet there is longing too, as the young rabbit and his mother wait for news of his father, grounded on a plane in a faraway city.... The news that his father will be home tomorrow gives the book a peaceful, comforting, and perfect ending.
The Snow Dog
by Norman Bridwell Steve Haefele Lisa Ann MarsoliEmily Elizabeth makes a snow dog. Clifford does too! Will they win an award for their snow art?
The Snow Geese (Fountas & Pinnell Classroom, Guided Reading Grade 2)
by Beverley Randell Christina WaldNIMAC-sourced textbook
The Snow Jewel: The Snow Jewel (The Rescue Princesses #5)
by Paula HarrisonThese are no ordinary princesses--they're Rescue Princesses!Northernland is the snowiest kingdom the Rescue Princesses have ever visited. They are delighted to go sledding, drink hot cocoa, and make friends with the girl who lives there, Princess Freya. When Princess Freya's mischievous kitten goes missing, the princesses leap into action. They have to find the kitten-even if it means letting Freya in on their Rescue Princess secret.
The Snow Leopard Project: And Other Adventures in Warzone Conservation
by Alex DehganThe remarkable story of the heroic effort to save and preserve Afghanistan's wildlife-and a culture that derives immense pride and a sense of national identity from its natural landscape.Postwar Afghanistan is fragile, volatile, and perilous. It is also a place of extraordinary beauty. Evolutionary biologist Alex Dehgan arrived in the country in 2006 to build the Wildlife Conservation Society's Afghanistan Program, and preserve and protect Afghanistan's unique and extraordinary environment, which had been decimated after decades of war.Conservation, it turned out, provided a common bond between Alex's team and the people of Afghanistan. His international team worked unarmed in some of the most dangerous places in the country-places so remote that winding roads would abruptly disappear, and travel was on foot, yak, or mule. In The Snow Leopard Project, Dehgan takes readers along with him on his adventure as his team helps create the country's first national park, completes the some of the first extensive wildlife surveys in thirty years, and works to stop the poaching of the country's iconic endangered animals, including the elusive snow leopard. In doing so, they help restore a part of Afghan identity that is ineffably tied to the land itself.
The Snow Pony
by Anne Eliot CromptonJanet Stone is new in town and lonely. Stuck-up Marigold Stass has snubbed her. No one wants to be her friend -- until she meets Mr. Flower, "the mad hermit of Winterfield." Mr. Flower offers Janet a job: helping him tame and groom his wild pony, Pearl, a surprise gift for his adored grandson who will visit in the spring. Janet knows nothing about horses, but Mr. Flower teaches her and Janet helps turn Pearl into a beautiful, glossy pet. Now she's ready to challenge Marigold. But spring and Mr. Flowers grandson are almost here. Janet's afraid. Will she lose her beloved pony? Will she be alone again? Or has she learned how to make friends and keep them -- for life...
The Snowy Nap
by Jan BrettIn this instant winter classic, Jan Brett's Hedgie tries to stay awake so he doesn't miss out on all the snowy fun his friends are having.A chill is in the air, and as Hedgie trundles around the farm all his friends tell him of the winter-time fun he will miss as he hibernates: Icicles decorating the chicken coop! Lisa making snowmen! The pond turned to slippery ice! It sounds so amazing that Hedgie decides to stay awake instead of going to his burrow. But then, a snowstorm starts. Luckily, Lisa finds him and brings him to her home, so Hedgie gets to see the wonders of winter from inside the cozy house.From the creator of winter classics like The Mitten, The Animals' Santa, and The Three Snow Bears comes another seasonal adventure that is sure to warm the heart.
The Soccer Ball Monster Mystery
by Walker Styles Ben WhitehouseIn this sixth Rider Woofson adventure, the PI Pack investigates the missing mascot for the Pawston Dynamos!The Pawston Dynamos are a soccer team without a mascot, but that's because their mascot has gone missing! Can Rider and the PI Pack find Dynamo Dog before the upcoming championship or will the team's spirit be stolen, too? With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Rider Woofson chapter books are perfect for emerging readers!
The Social Behavior of Older Animals
by Anne Innis DaggHow do young and old social animals view each other? Are aged animals perceived by others as weaker? Or wiser? What is the relationship between age and power among social animals?Taking a cue from Frans de Waal’s seminal work examining the lives of chimpanzees, Anne Innis Dagg in this pioneering study probes the lives of older mammals and birds. Synthesizing the available scientific research and anecdotal evidence, she explores how aging affects the lives and behavior of animals ranging from elk to elephants and gulls to gorillas, examining such topics as longevity; how others in a group view senior members in regard to leadership, wisdom, and teaching; mating success; interactions with mates and offspring; how aging affects dominance; changes in aggressive behavior and adaptability; and death and dying. At once instructive and compelling, this theme-spanning book reveals the complex nature of maturity in scores of social species and shows that animal behavior often displays the same diversity we find in ourselves.
The Social Behavior of Older Animals
by Anne Innis DaggA groundbreaking study on the lives of senior mammals and birds—from the aging of alphas to the role of grandmothers—by the author of Animal Friendships. How do young and old social animals view each other? Are aged animals perceived by others as weaker? Or wiser? What is the relationship between age and power among social animals?Taking a cue from Frans de Waal’s seminal work examining the lives of chimpanzees, Anne Innis Dagg in this pioneering study probes the lives of older mammals and birds. Synthesizing the available scientific research and anecdotal evidence, she explores how aging affects the lives and behavior of animals ranging from elk to elephants and gulls to gorillas, examining such topics as longevity; how others in a group view senior members in regard to leadership, wisdom, and teaching; mating success; interactions with mates and offspring; how aging affects dominance; changes in aggressive behavior and adaptability; and death and dying.At once instructive and compelling, this theme-spanning book reveals the complex nature of maturity in scores of social species and shows that animal behavior often displays the same diversity we find in ourselves.“Dagg’s book should be a corrective to us all; species that lose or ignore the contributions of their older members do so at their peril.” —Literary Review of Canada“Humans and chimps, it turns out, value age in sexual partners very differently. In our species youth is prized, but among chimps the reverse is the case.” —The New York Review of Books
The Social Instinct: How Cooperation Shaped the World
by Nichola Raihani"Enriching" —Publisher's Weekly"Excellent and illuminating"—Wall Street JournalIn the tradition of Richard Dawkins's The Selfish Gene, Nichola Raihani's The Social Instinct is a profound and engaging look at the hidden relationships underpinning human evolution, and why cooperation is key to our future survival.Cooperation is the means by which life arose in the first place. It’s how life progressed through scale and complexity, from free-floating strands of genetic material to nation states. But given what we know about evolution, cooperation is also something of a puzzle. How does cooperation begin, when on a Darwinian level, all the genes in the body care about is being passed on to the next generation? Why do meerkats care for one another’s offspring? Why do babbler birds in the Kalahari form colonies in which only a single pair breeds? And how come some reef-dwelling fish punish each other for harming fish from another species? A biologist by training, Raihani looks at where and how collaborative behavior emerges throughout the animal kingdom, and what problems it solves. She reveals that the species that exhibit cooperative behaviour most similar to our own tend not to be other apes; they are birds, insects, and fish, occupying far more distant branches of the evolutionary tree. By understanding the problems they face, and how they cooperate to solve them, we can glimpse how human cooperation first evolved. And we can also understand what it is about the way we cooperate that makes us so distinctive–and so successful.
The Social Life of Greylag Geese
by Isabella B. R. Scheiber Brigitte M. Weiß Josef Hemetsberger Kurt Kotrschal Isabella B. R. Scheiber Brigitte M. Weiß Josef HemetsbergerThe flock of greylag geese established by Konrad Lorenz in Austria in 1973 has become an influential model animal system and one of the few worldwide with complete life-history data spanning several decades. Based on the unique records of nearly 1000 free-living greylag geese, this is a synthesis of more than 20 years of behavioural research. It provides a comprehensive overview of a complex bird society, placing it in an evolutionary framework and drawing on a range of approaches, including behavioural (personality, aggression, pair bonding and clan formation), physiological, cognitive and genetic. With contributions from leading researchers, the chapters provide valuable insight into historic and recent research on the social behaviour of geese. All aspects of goose and bird sociality are discussed in the context of parallels with mammalian social organisation, making this a fascinating resource for anyone interested in integrative approaches to vertebrate social systems.
The Social Lives of Animals
by Ashley WardA rat will go out of its way to help a stranger in need. Lions have adopted the calves of their prey. Ants farm fungus in cooperatives. Why do we continue to believe that life in the animal kingdom is ruled by competition? In The Social Lives of Animals, biologist Ashley Ward takes us on a wild tour across the globe as he searches for a more accurate picture of how animals build societies. Ward drops in on a termite mating ritual (while his guides snack on the subjects), visits freelance baboon goatherds, and swims with a mixed family of whales and dolphins. Along the way, Ward shows that the social impulses we&’ve long thought separated humans from other animals might actually be our strongest connection to them. Insightful, engaging, and often hilarious, The Social Lives of Animals demonstrates that you can learn more about animals by studying how they work together than by how they compete.
The Social Lives of Dogs: The Grace of Canine Company
by Elizabeth Marshall ThomasThis quote comes from the book jacket. "In her absorbing bestseller, The Hidden Life of Dogs, Elizabeth Marshall Thomas provided fascinating answers to the question "What do dogs want?" It turns out that more than anything, they want the company of other dogs. Now, in this frank and moving sequel, she explores how, despite this desire, they have beautifully adapted to life with their human owners. If they can't belong to a group with similar dogs, they will establish or join one with other members of the household, whether those members are men, women, children, other dogs of different ages and breeds, cats, or birds. And, contrary to our assumptions that we wield the power in our relationships with our dogs, it is they who are teaching us new behaviors--even settling disputes in ways we are unaware of. No one writing today about dogs and people has Elizabeth Marshall Thomas's skills as a classically trained anthropologist and popularizer. What she has observed and analyzed will be illuminating to all of us who have wondered about our pets' behavior. Do dogs have different barks that mean different things? How does Snoopy recognize as family people he sees only once a year? And why does Misty bark at strangers she sees every day? What factors contribute to making a dog difficult to house-train? Why do certain dogs and cats get along so well? How do animals train each other? Thomas explores these questions by taking us into the mixed-species groups of her own household, particularly the lives of her remarkable dogs, with their differences in breeding, early training, and personality. Misty, a purebred, had been kept in a crate, alone, for most of her first year; lonely and insecure, she was afraid of grass and stairs, which she had never seen. Ruby was abandoned, having been pronounced untrainable. Pearl had lived with Thomas's son in his large household, and on her arrival at Thomas's house, she behaved like the well-mannered, self-possessed being she was. And Sundog, the most loyal, self-confident, courageous of all, accepted the arrival of each of these new dogs, but had made a group consisting of himself and Thomas's husband, so the others sorted themselves out without him. Each of these dogs, like any other, wanted more than anything to belong to a group, and how they organized themselves into felicitous relationships without any input from their owners is the most compelling of Elizabeth Thomas's many findings. Few dogs get to live with their chosen loved ones; they are slaves to our desires. We convince ourselves, however wrongly, that we know what's best for them. The Social Lives of Dogs presents marvelous evidence of the power of the group. And those of us fortunate enough to be given the trust of any honorable dog will have our lives enlarged."
The Social Lives of Dogs: The Grace of Canine Company (G. K. Hall Nonfiction Ser.)
by Elizabeth Marshall ThomasFrom the bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Dogs and The Tribe of Tiger comes a groundbreaking work on canine consciousness and how dogs become family Moving from Virginia to New Hampshire is a change not only for Elizabeth Marshall Thomas and her husband, but also for their three elderly dogs. A classically trained anthropologist, Thomas observes the way in which Suessi, Fatima, and Inookshook acclimate to a new house and new adventure. Over the years, as the dogs grow older and new ones are taken in, Thomas analyzes their behavior and personalities. What makes dogs react uniformly to certain situations? To what extent do they comprehend human dialogue? With every sniff of the dogs' noses and every wag of their tails, Thomas builds an impressive understanding of canine reaction and affection, and of the ways dogs support those they regard as one of their own.
The Sojourner
by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings[from inside flaps] "First published in 1953, The Sojourner was Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' last novel, written as a tribute to her grandfather. This is the story of the Lindens, a second generation Scottish/Irish farm family. Unlike most of her books--including her most famous novel, The Yearling--which were set in or near Cross Creek, Florida, The Sojourner is set in New England. Its hero is Ase Linden, whom we meet as a youth of twenty at the time of his father's death and follow to the time of his own death as a very old man. Ase is the sojourner of the title and the Biblical quote in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' dedication: "For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding."" Ase is the sojourner of the title and the Biblical quote in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' dedication: "For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." The plot involves life on a farm which prospers under the loving guidance of Ase whose inner life is rich though he finds it difficult to communicate verbally with his family. Ase is a keen observer. When he sees evil in action or in the making he is usually too reluctant to judge or intervene. The novel is a lush showcase of nature in its seasons on a fertile, well tended farm from the late nineteenth century to the mid twentieth century.