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A Monstrous Commotion: The Mysteries of Loch Ness
by Gareth WilliamsThe Loch Ness Monster: a creature that should have died out with the dinosaurs, or a legend built on hoaxes and wishful thinking?Sir Peter Scott, internationally renowned naturalist and president of the World Wildlife Fund, was convinced that the Monster existed. So were senior scientists at London's Natural History Museum and Chicago University; they lost their jobs because they refused to renounce their belief in the creature. For decades, the scientific establishment was determined to quash attempts to investigate Loch Ness - until Nature, the world's greatest research journal, published an article by Peter Scott featuring underwater photographs of the Monster. Drawing extensively on new material, Gareth Williams takes a wholly original look at what really happened in Loch Ness. A Monstrous Commotion tells the story as never before: a gripping saga populated by colourful characters who do extraordinary things in pursuit of one of evolution's wildest cards.Meticulously researched and dazzlingly written, this book will appeal to anyone fascinated by nature and its mysteries - and to everyone who enjoys a beautifully crafted detective story with a strong cast of heroes and villains, plenty of twists and an unexpected ending.
A Monstrous Commotion: The Mysteries of Loch Ness
by Gareth WilliamsThe Loch Ness Monster: a creature that should have died out with the dinosaurs, or a legend built on hoaxes and wishful thinking?Sir Peter Scott, internationally renowned naturalist and president of the World Wildlife Fund, was convinced that the Monster existed. So were senior scientists at London's Natural History Museum and Chicago University; they lost their jobs because they refused to renounce their belief in the creature. For decades, the scientific establishment was determined to quash attempts to investigate Loch Ness - until Nature, the world's greatest research journal, published an article by Peter Scott featuring underwater photographs of the Monster. Drawing extensively on new material, Gareth Williams takes a wholly original look at what really happened in Loch Ness. A Monstrous Commotion tells the story as never before: a gripping saga populated by colourful characters who do extraordinary things in pursuit of one of evolution's wildest cards.Meticulously researched and dazzlingly written, this book will appeal to anyone fascinated by nature and its mysteries - and to everyone who enjoys a beautifully crafted detective story with a strong cast of heroes and villains, plenty of twists and an unexpected ending.Read by Andrew Cullum,with a postscript read by the author.(p) 2016 Orion Publishing Group
A Moose For Jessica
by Pat A. Wakefield Larry CarraraFrom the book jacket: Early one October morning, a bull moose strode out of the Vermont woods and caught sight of a pudgy Hereford cow named Jessica. During the next seventy-six days, he wooed her, and the amorous couple became the subject of worldwide news coverage. People everywhere found the moose's ardent attentions a touching diversion from more serious issues of the day and a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of love. But the underlying story, never fully told until now, is that of Jessica's owner, Larry Carrara, and the patience and care he offered a wild creature. The bond between man and moose speaks to all, young and old, of the mysterious harmony that is possible when nature is treated with intelligence and respect. PAT A. WAKEFIELD was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. After eighteen years of corporate life in New York City, she moved to Vermont with her husband and two children. She is a marketing consultant living in North Chittenden. This is her first book. LARRY CARRARA lives in Shrewsbury, Vermont, on a farm that has been in his family for three generations. He and his wife, Lila, have five children and four grandchildren. He works for a local manufacturing firm and is a part-time farmer with a few horses, a small herd of beef cattle, and a soft spot for all creatures, wild or tame: "If a cow gives me trouble or if there are too many bull calves, I'll sell them. I can't slaughter them. I get too darned attached."
A Morgan for Melinda
by Doris GatesThe girl, Melinda: When her father announced he was buying her a horse, she said, "Thanks a lot. The last thing I want is a horse." "Of course you want a horse," he came right back at her. "All girls want a horse. You couldn't be my daughter and not want one." The trouble was she loved her father and wanted him to be proud of her. The Morgan, Aranaway Ethan: From the first morning that the gentle Morgan horse came to live with them, ten-year-old Melinda's life changed. Taking care of Ethan every day made her less afraid of him until finally she found herself hanging around the paddock in the afternoons. Slowly she was beginning to like the idea of a horse and Aranaway Ethan in particular. The writer, Missy: At first the elderly woman writer seemed just a nuisance and a meddler. But that too changed in time. It was Missy who encouraged Melinda to ride, Missy who read the first chapters of her hook. Finally it was Missy who convinced Melinda that it didn't take horsemanship alone to make her a very special person. Told in Melinda's own words, this poignant story reflects a year of change, a year to remember in the life of one ten-year-old girl.
A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World's Smartest Birds of Prey
by Jonathan Meiburg&“A fascinating, entertaining, and totally engrossing story.&”—David Sibley, author of What It's Like to Be a Bird &“Utterly captivating and beautifully written, this book is a hugely entertaining and enlightening exploration of a bird so wickedly smart, curious, and social, it boggles the mind.&”—Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Bird Way &“As curious, wide-ranging, gregarious, and intelligent as its subject.&”—Charles C. Mann, author of 1491 An enthralling account of a modern voyage of discovery as we meet the clever, social birds of prey called caracaras, which puzzled Darwin, fascinate modern-day falconers, and carry secrets of our planet's deep past in their family history.In 1833, Charles Darwin was astonished by an animal he met in the Falkland Islands: handsome, social, and oddly crow-like falcons that were "tame and inquisitive . . . quarrelsome and passionate," and so insatiably curious that they stole hats, compasses, and other valuables from the crew of the Beagle. Darwin wondered why these birds were confined to remote islands at the tip of South America, sensing a larger story, but he set this mystery aside and never returned to it. Almost two hundred years later, Jonathan Meiburg takes up this chase. He takes us through South America, from the fog-bound coasts of Tierra del Fuego to the tropical forests of Guyana, in search of these birds: striated caracaras, which still exist, though they're very rare. He reveals the wild, fascinating story of their history, origins, and possible futures. And along the way, he draws us into the life and work of William Henry Hudson, the Victorian writer and naturalist who championed caracaras as an unsung wonder of the natural world, and to falconry parks in the English countryside, where captive caracaras perform incredible feats of memory and problem-solving. A Most Remarkable Creature is a hybrid of science writing, travelogue, and biography, as generous and accessible as it is sophisticated, and absolutely riveting.
A Mother's Love (Step into Reading)
by Melissa LagonegroPixar Animation Studio's 13th animated feature film, Disney/Pixar Brave, is an epic adventure set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. Determined to carve her own path in life, a skilled archer named Princess Merida defies a sacred age-old custom—and inadvertently unleashes a beastly curse upon the kingdom. To set things right, Merida embarks on a perilous quest and discovers the meaning of true bravery. This Step 2 reader based on the film is perfect for boys and girls ages 4-6.
A Mountain Alphabet (ABC Our Country)
by Margriet RuursMountains are an impressive sight anywhere in the world but those of the western mountain region of North America offer riches that are truly unique. This lavishly illustrated picture book presents snowcapped peaks, emerald lakes, tall pines and magnificent maples, and a range of birds and animals that will fill readers of all ages with wonder.The treasures and mysteries of nature are depicted in twenty-six full-color paintings, each with a line of alliterative text. Objects that begin with that letter of the alphabet are waiting to be discovered in each illustration. Complete with detailed information about each setting painted, this is a visually and mentally stimulating experience – from A to Z.
A Mouse Called Miika
by Matt HaigFrom the world of A Boy Called Christmas, now a major motion picture, comes the epic adventure of a tiny hero This is a tale of mice and magic. It is also a tale of great love (of cheese) and great danger. And of learning the lesson that what matters most—when it comes to cheese and life—is not how strongly you smell but how strong you are on the inside.
A Mouse Called Miika
by Matt HaigRatatouille meets Roald Dahl in the funny and fantastical story of a determined mouse on a mission to procure the world's tastiest cheese. From the author of A Boy Called Christmas--coming soon to Netflix! <p><p> When Nikolas left the only home he had ever known, it was a mouse named Miika who kept him company, and it was Miika who accompanied him on his journey to the Far North, in search of his father. But before the events of A Boy Called Christmas, this little mouse was the hero of his own story. <p><p> A Mouse Called Miika is an epic adventure story on a miniature scale. It's a tale of mice and men (and more mice). It is about one independent mouse who gets fed up with the other mice, and sets out on a quest of his own to prove that cheese exists, and learns to appreciate other creatures. It is also a tale of great love (of cheese) and great danger. And learning the lesson that, with cheese, as with life, what matters most is not how strongly you smell, but how strong you are on the inside. <p><p> Funny, cheeky, wise, and packed full of Matt Haig's signature warmth. This is set to become a year-round children's favorite.
A Mouse Called Wolf
by Dick King-SmithWolfgang Amadeus Mouse ("Wolf," for short) has a big name for such a little mouse. But the name fits. His favorite pastime is listening to Mrs. Honeybee, the lady of the house, play the piano. If only he could sing along to the music!<P><P> One day, Wolf decides to try -- and to his surprise, out of his mouth comes a perfect melody.It's not long before Wolf is singing everything from "Three Blind Mice" to Chopin to the Beatles, all to Mrs. Honeybee's accompaniment. Then an accident leaves Mrs. Honeybee in danger, and it's up to Wolf to save her... the only way he knows how.<P> Winner of Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Award
A Mouse Named Mus
by Irene BradyA mouse is born as a pet but becomes lost and has many challenges out in the wild. This tale is full of vivid descriptions about the lives of real animals.
A Mouse in a Cage: Rethinking Humanitarianism and the Rights of Lab Animals
by Carrie FrieseQuestions the treatment of laboratory animals in biomedical researchLaboratory animals are often used to develop medical treatments: vaccines, antibiotics, and organ transplants have all relied upon animal testing to ensure safety and success for human benefit. Yet the relationship between the scientific community's dependence on laboratory animals and the recognition of the need to treat these animals with respect and compassion has given rise to a profound tension.As animals are increasingly understood to have rights and autonomy, Carrie Friese posits that, while care and compassion for a distant other who suffers are central to humanitarianism, the idea of a distant other itself, which has shaped work with laboratory animals both historically and today, has enacted forms of highly problematic paternalism, creating a double bind. Focusing on the lives of laboratory mice and rats in the United Kingdom, and on the people who take care of, and often kill, these animals, Friese gives the name of “more-than-human humanitarianism” to contradictory practices of suffering and compassion, killing and sacrifice, and compassion and consent that she witnessed in a variety of animal facilities and laboratories.Friese proposes a new approach to the treatment of laboratory animals that recognizes the interconnectedness of all species and how human actions impact the welfare of other species and the planet as a whole. A Mouse in a Cage is an essential contribution to the ongoing conversation about the ethical treatment of animals.
A Mousy Mess: Sorting (Mouse Math)
by Laura DriscollEach read-aloud book in the Mouse Math series focuses on a single, basic math concept and features adorable mice, Albert and Wanda, who live in a People House. Entertaining fiction stories capture kids&’ imaginations as the mice learn about numbers, shapes, sizes and more. Over 3 million copies sold worldwide!While the cat's away, the mice will visit the playroom! But when all the toys come tumbling down, can Albert sort them back into the right bins before the People come home? Every Mouse Math title includes back matter activities that support and extend reading comprehension and math skills, plus free online activities. (Math concept: Sorting)
A Name for Baby
by Lizi BoydAnimals gently angle to have a new baby named after themselves in this sweet picture book by Lizi Boyd, whose previous work was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year."A name is a sound that follows you around. I'm listening for one," says Mother Mouse. Holding her new baby close, she fields suggestions from Sadie Snail, Kiki Cat, Merle Squirrel, and a host of other animals (many of whom would like to see the new baby named after themselves!). One by one, the animals suggest names for baby that would personally honor themselves. Lyrical text filled with wordplay will charm soon-to-be parents and soon-to-be older siblings alike. Lizi Boyd is an innovative and celebrated illustrator. Her book Big Bear Little Chair was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2015.
A Natural History of Color: The Science Behind What We See and How We See it
by Rob DeSalleA star curator at the American Museum of Natural History widens the palette and shows how the physical, natural, and cultural context of color are inextricably tied to what we see right before our eyes.Is color a phenomenon of science or a thing of art? Over the years, color has dazzled, enhanced, and clarified the world we see, embraced through the experimental palettes of painting, the advent of the color photograph, Technicolor pictures, color printing, on and on, a vivid and vibrant celebrated continuum. These turns to represent reality in &“living color&” echo our evolutionary reliance on and indeed privileging of color as a complex and vital form of consumption, classification, and creation. It&’s everywhere we look, yet do we really know much of anything about it? Finding color in stars and light, examining the system of classification that determines survival through natural selection, studying the arrival of color in our universe and as a fulcrum for philosophy, DeSalle&’s brilliant A Natural History of Color establishes that an understanding of color on many different levels is at the heart of learning about nature, neurobiology, individualism, even a philosophy of existence. Color and a fine tuned understanding of it is vital to understanding ourselves and our consciousness.
A Natural History of Families
by Scott ForbesWhy do baby sharks, hyenas, and pelicans kill their siblings? Why do beetles and mice commit infanticide? Why are twins and birth defects more common in older human mothers? A Natural History of Families concisely examines what behavioral ecologists have discovered about family dynamics and what these insights might tell us about human biology and behavior. Scott Forbes's engaging account describes an uneasy union among family members in which rivalry for resources often has dramatic and even fatal consequences. In nature, parents invest resources and control the allocation of resources among their offspring to perpetuate their genetic lineage. Those families sometimes function as cooperative units, the nepotistic and loving havens we choose to identify with. In the natural world, however, dysfunctional familial behavior is disarmingly commonplace. While explaining why infanticide, fratricide, and other seemingly antisocial behaviors are necessary, Forbes also uncovers several surprising applications to humans. Here the conflict begins in the moments following conception as embryos struggle to wrest control of pregnancy from the mother, and to wring more nourishment from her than she can spare, thus triggering morning sickness, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Mothers, in return, often spontaneously abort embryos with severe genetic defects, allowing for prenatal quality control of offspring. Using a broad sweep of entertaining examples culled from the world of animals and humans, A Natural History of Families is a lively introduction to the behavioral ecology of the family.
A Natural History of Human Thinking
by Michael TomaselloTool-making or culture, language or religious belief: ever since Darwin, thinkers have struggled to identify what fundamentally differentiates human beings from other animals. In this much-anticipated book, Michael Tomasello weaves his twenty years of comparative studies of humans and great apes into a compelling argument that cooperative social interaction is the key to our cognitive uniqueness. Once our ancestors learned to put their heads together with others to pursue shared goals, humankind was on an evolutionary path all its own. Tomasello argues that our prehuman ancestors, like todays great apes, were social beings who could solve problems by thinking. But they were almost entirely competitive, aiming only at their individual goals. As ecological changes forced them into more cooperative living arrangements, early humans had to coordinate their actions and communicate their thoughts with collaborative partners. Tomasellos "shared intentionality hypothesis" captures how these more socially complex forms of life led to more conceptually complex forms of thinking. In order to survive, humans had to learn to see the world from multiple social perspectives, to draw socially recursive inferences, and to monitor their own thinking via the normative standards of the group. Even language and culture arose from the preexisting need to work together. What differentiates us most from other great apes, Tomasello proposes, are the new forms of thinking engendered by our new forms of collaborative and communicative interaction. "A Natural History of Human Thinking "is the most detailed scientific analysis to date of the connection between human sociality and cognition.
A Natural History of Ladybird Beetles
by Brown Roy H. E. Majerus M.E.N. Brown P. M. J. M. E. N.The Coccinellidae are a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds or ladybugs. In Britain alone, some 46 species belong to the Coccinellidae family, although only 26 of these are recognisably ladybirds. Composed largely of Professor Michael Majerus' lifetime work, and updated by two leading experts in the field, this book reveals intriguing insights into ladybird biology from a global perspective. The popularity of this insect group has been captured through societal and cultural considerations, coupled with detailed descriptions of complex scientific processes, to provide a comprehensive and accessible overview of these charismatic insects. Bringing together many studies on ladybirds, this book has been organised into themes, ranging from anatomy and physiology to ecology and evolution. This book is suitable for interested amateur enthusiasts, and researchers involved with ladybirds, entomology and biological control.
A Natural History of Nature Writing
by Frank StewartA Natural History of Nature Writing is a penetrating overview of the origins and development of a uniquely American literature. Essayist and poet Frank Stewart describes in rich and compelling prose the lives and works of the most prominent American nature writers of the19th and 20th centuries, including: *Henry D. Thoreau, the father of American nature writing. *John Burroughs, a schoolteacher and failed businessman who found his calling as a writer and elevated the nature essay to a loved and respected literary form. *John Muir, founder of Sierra Club, who celebrated the wilderness of the Far West as few before him had. *Aldo Leopold, a Forest Service employee and scholar who extended our moral responsibility to include all animals and plants. *Rachel Carson, a scientist who raised the consciousness of the nation by revealing the catastrophic effects of human intervention on the Earth's living systems. *Edward Abbey, an outspoken activist who charted the boundaries of ecological responsibility and pushed these boundaries to political extremes. Stewart highlights the controversies ignited by the powerful and eloquent prose of these and other writers with their expansive - and often strongly political - points of view. Combining a deeply-felt sense of wonder at the beauty surrounding us with a rare ability to capture and explain the meaning of that beauty, nature writers have had a profound effect on American culture and politics. A Natural History of Nature Writing is an insightful examination of an important body of American literature.
A Natural History of Parenting: A Naturalist Looks at Parenting in the Animal World and Ours
by Susan AllportAnyone who has ever held a baby--or observed a nesting bird--will find much to inform and entertain in this enchantingly written and thoroughly researched book. Allport revels in the marvelous diversity of care in the animal world. She shows us our place in that world with great humor, knowledge, and common sense.
A Natural History of the Emirates
by John A. BurtFor many people, thoughts of the United Arab Emirates conjure images of ultramodern skyscrapers and rolling sand dunes. However, the Emirates are a rich mosaic of ecosystems and habitats that support surprisingly diverse communities of organisms, and there is growing awareness of the importance of these previously underappreciated natural assets. A Natural History of the Emirates provides a comprehensive overview of the unusual environmental setting of this young nation, and surveys the major ecosystems and the marine and terrestrial organisms occurring across the nation. From freshwater streams in the hyperarid Hajar Mountains to the world’s most temperature-tolerant coral reefs, the UAE is home to an astounding variety of uniquely adapted organisms that are providing insights into climate change and how organisms cope with and respond to extreme environmental conditions. The book closes with a section on human interactions with this unique environment, and proposes initiatives to ensure the protection of these unique natural assets into the future. This is an open access book.
A Naturalist at Large: The Best Essays of Bernd Heinrich
by Bernd HeinrichSome of the world&’s greatest writings on birds, insects, trees, elephants, and more by a scientist who &“richly deserves the comparison to Thoreau&” (The Washington Post Book World). From one of the finest scientist/writers of our time comes an engaging record of a life spent in close observation of the natural world, one that has yielded &“marvelous, mind-altering&” (Los Angeles Times) insight and discoveries. In essays that span several decades, Heinrich finds himself at home in Maine, where he plays host to visitors from Europe (the cluster flies) and more welcome guests from Asia (ladybugs); and as far away as Botswana, where he unravels the far-reaching ecological consequences of elephants&’ bruising treatment of mopane trees. The many fascinating discoveries in Naturalist at Large include the maple sap harvesting habits of red squirrels, and the &“instant&” flower-opening in the yellow iris as a way of ensuring potent pollination. Heinrich turns to his great love, the ravens, some of them close companions for years, as he designs a unique experiment to tease out the fascinating parameters of raven intelligence. Finally, he asks &“Where does a biologist find hope?&” while delivering an answer that informs and inspires. Praise for Bernd Heinrich &“One of the finest naturalists of our time.&”—Edward O. Wilson &“[Heinrich&’s] ability to linger and simply be there for the moment when, for instance, an elderly spider descends from a silken strand to take the insect he offers her is the heart of his appeal.&”—The Wall Street Journal &“Passionate observations [that] superbly mix memoir and science.&”—The New York Times Book Review
A Naturalist in Alaska
by Adolph MurieThe larger mammals of North America are known mostly to a few big game hunters, while the ordinary public observes them only in captivity or tamed. Very few students of ecology have ever lived with these animals in their native habitat—even fewer have written about them from an ecological viewpoint. In this respect, Adolph Murie is almost unique.This book concerns the domestic ways of the wildlife in Alaska, the grizzly bear, the wolf, the lynx, the wolverine, the Dall sheep, the caribou, and the Arctic fox. But even more fascinating than the life cycles of these creatures are their interrelationships—prey and predator maintaining a delicate balance in one of the few remaining wildernesses of this continent.
A Neotropical Companion: An Introduction to the Animals, Plants, and Ecosystems of the New World Tropics (2nd Edition, Revised and Expanded)
by John KricherA Neotropical Companion is an extraordinarily readable introduction to the American tropics, the lands of Central and South America, their remarkable rainforests and other ecosystems, and the creatures that live there. It is the most comprehensive one-volume guide to the Neotropics available today. Widely praised in its first edition, it remains a book of unparalleled value to tourists, students, and scientists alike. This second edition has been substantially revised and expanded to incorporate the abundance of new scientific information that has been produced since it was first published in 1989. Major additions have been made to every chapter, and new chapters have been added on Neotropical ecosystems, human ecology, and the effects of deforestation. Biodiversity and its preservation are discussed throughout the book, and Neotropical evolution is described in detail. This new edition offers all new drawings and photographs, many of them in color. As enthusiastic readers of the first edition will attest, this is a charming book. Wearing his learning lightly and writing with ease and humor, John Kricher presents the complexities of tropical ecology as accessible and nonintimidating. Kricher is so thoroughly knowledgeable and the book is so complete in its coverage that general readers and ecotourists will not need any other book to help them identify and understand the plants and animals, from birds to bugs, that they will encounter in their travels to the New World tropics. At the same time, it will fascinate armchair travelers and students who may get no closer to the Neotropics than this engagingly written book.