Book Description

Whitetail Monarchs features twelve absolutely remarkable color photographs of the largest bucks ever recorded on film. This beautiful calendar will certainly enlighten and delight nature lovers, sportsmen and photographers alike. ... Read more

Book Description

New Guinea, the world's second largest island, lies at the heart of the Australasian center of species diversity. The remarkable richness of species in the region is no more spectacularly evident than in its bewildering and beautiful array of butterflies. Michael Parsons presents, from his fifteen years of studying these butterflies, a comprehensive description of this butterfly fauna which describes and celebrates their evolution and ecology. The butterflies of New Guinea show how a single animal group can diversify to fully exploit the riches of a tropical rainforest environment. More than 958 species have been recorded so far, and each has developed a unique relationship to its environment, foodplants, predators, and competitors.

This book presents a valuable reference for both the amateur naturalist with an interest in butterflies and the evolutionary ecologist interested in the processes and results of adaptation. The book provides a background of the geography of New Guinea, the origins and characteristics of its butterfly fauna, and special considerations of New Guinea butterfly ecology and conservation. The 820 species recorded from Papua New Guinea and a checklist of the 958 species occurring in Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya as a whole are also discussed in detail. This book includes line drawings showing detailed identification points, color photographs of some 3000 specimens, and over 400 color photographs detailing aspects of life history and ecology. The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea presents a vital inventory of the present fauna, in addition to projections of the discovery of new species and the fortunes of those already in existence there.

Key Features:

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Examines butterflies as key indicators of environments under pressure
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Contains color photos of more than 3000 specimens
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Presents the first comprehensive review of the lives of New Guinea butterflies
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Includes over 400 color photographs from life

Reviews (1)

The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea - Michael Parsons (1999)
The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea - Their Systematics and Biology - Dr Michael Parsons (736 pages, 26 B/W plates, 136 colour photos)

This is a marvellous book and is long overdue. The butterflies of PNG include some of the largest and most magical butterflies in the world and Dr Parsons has researched his subject thoroughly for more than 15 years, and was a senior entomologist in the Wildlife Division in Papua New Guinea from 1979 - 1984.

The book is divided into two parts plus an extensive bibliography, a glossary, index, line drawings, (selected) genitalia, 11 appendices, 57 text figures, 8 tables and 136 colour photographs, including 32 of early stages (the photograph of a fully grown Queen Alexandra's Birdwing caterpillar on a man's hand is awesome).

Part 1 has 11 very comprehensive chapters: Scope & Format; New Guinea Past & Present; World Faunal Regions & Butterfly Diversity; Origins & Composition of the New Guinea Butterfly Fauna; A History of Butterfly Collecting in New Guinea; Butterfly Conservation & Commerce in PNG; Aspects of Butterfly Ecology in PNG; Mimicry in New Guinea Butterflies; Collection & Study; Adult Structure; Classification & Nomenclature.

Part 2 lists and describes over 820 species by family and there is a checklist of 959 species so far discovered on the island of New Guinea and its satalite archipelagos. Not only are descriptions of all stages given, but also a history of each species from when it was first described to the present. Known ranges, foodplants of larvae and habits are also given. Some species, notably the birdwings, have distribution maps. This section brings the serious entomologist bang up to date with the subject and also provides the enthusiastic novice with a book that will lead him or her through the wonderful PNG butterflies without losing the reader in a sea of technical jargon.

The colour plates illustrate nearly 3000 specimens, depicting all the major forms and morphs of PNG's butterflies, many natural size. The 32 plates of early stages show nearly 400 photographs of eggs, larvae and pupae, as well as some adults photographed in the field and clearly demostrate the diversity of forms these take.

I can thoroughly recommend this book, and although the price is high, it is the result of many years study by an acknowledged expert and will be the standard text on PNG butterflies for years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

Experience remote tropical butterfly collecting locations first hand: topography; politics; jungle; exotic butterflies and their defenses; plus the challenges facing these rare and beautiful insects and the people around them.

The books starts with an introduction covering the author's collecting motivation plus observations on some of the amazing elements of butterfly life and behaviour. THe book takes the reader to six collecting areas selected on the basis of great butterflies and significant social events:

Peru/Tingo Maria
China/The Summer Place
Costa Rica/The Osa Peninsula
Liberia/Harbel
Trinidad/Barcant
Ivory Coast/Man

The book presents a unique combination of natural science and travel-adventure. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the brief but brilliant lives of these amazing insects-how they feed, fly, breed and disguise themselves from hungry predators.Packed with over 180 glorious color photographs, specially drawn diagrams and illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

If she could write, this book might be great
It is quite possible that this book has a lot to teach me beneath the stream of consciousness style but it sure is a lot of hard work trying to dig out those old-fashioned subjects, verbs and objects from beneath the flower-power new age sentencing that is perhaps a misguided attempt to bring color to her subject but more likely just linguistic self-indulgence and a lack of willpower to rein in the runaway sentences and lassoo the flyaway metaphors that keep on buzzing out of Pandora's beehive.

THE best book about evolution & South American horses
Deb Bennett has produced a very well-researched volume about the evolution of the breeds of horses, with special emphasis on how the horse developed in South America. If you are interested in gaited horses (pacers, amblers, fox-trotters), ancient and old breeds (Akhal-Teke, Hobbies, Amblers, the horses of the Hittites, Etruscans, Scythians, etc), and the development of horsemanship, this book is an excellent addition to your library. The information regarding South American horses is especially welcome.

It is illustrated with clear B&W photos, line drawings, and charts. I might wish that some of the line drawings were accompanied by the original mosaic or painting. Also, some of her conclusions about the horsemanship evolution (particulary the origins of modern english and western saddles) are new to me. While her theses are perfectly clear, I would also have appreciated knowing why previous scholars came to other conclusions. If you read no other book, you wouldn't know there was any disagreement! Foot- or end-notes might have helped here.

I would be very interested in seeing her research on African, Middle Eastern, and Asian horse breeds. ... Read more

Book Description

Transform any garden into a haven for beautiful butterflies! Renowned butterfly specialists--scientists, nature writers and artists, directors of biological preserves--reveal the secrets of attracting and caring for these delicate creatures. With more than 80 beautiful photographs, this inspiring manual focuses on the amazing lifecycle of butterflies, especially emphasizing caterpillars and their food plants. Regional experts from every region from north to south and coast to coast, describe their own gardens and the native flora that butterflies love. Profiles cover specialty gardens, including herb gardens, children's gardens, and a wildflower meadow. Information on butterfly biology, family classification, migration, and conservation make this a valuable complement to butterfly guidebooks as well as a great gardening guide on its own.
... Read more

Book Description

This is the first book to cover all of the butterflies known to occur in Pakistan, with every species illustrated by the author. These illustrations include underwing pattern and, where different, both male and female forms. Introductory chapters explain the biology and geographic distribution, as well as present knowledge about the behavior, sensory faculties, and defenses against predators. This book also includes a gazetteer, bibliography, and a glossary of terms. ... Read more

Book Description

This book reviews many of the latest advances in the ecology and conservation of butterflies. It brings together under one cover details of progress in the field of monitoring distribution and abundance, effects of land use, and the management of endangered species. Each chapter is written by recognized experts in their field.The book is unique in containing reviews of conservation efforts from different regions of Europe and other continents. This provides an up-to-date record and comparison of the challenges and progress made in different countries. ... Read more