NATURAL HISTORY

The Encyclopaedia of New and Rediscovered Animals is the third, wholly-updated edition of the very first—and still the definitive—book to be devoted to the spectacular zoological discoveries and equally amazing rediscoveries of the 20th century, which attracted international acclaim and exemplary reviews following its original publication in 1993 (when it was entitled The Lost Ark), and its subsequent republication in 2002 as an updated, greatly-expanded second edition (entitled The New Zoo). This latest edition also contains an in-depth survey of the 21st century’s most celebrated discoveries and rediscoveries made during its first decade, plus an exhaustive, significantly-increased bibliography, as well as the only comprehensive collection of colour and b/w illustrations of these spectacular animal species ever published (including new, previously-unpublished photographs, and several exclusive, specially-commissioned full-colour paintings).

Unquestionably, The Encyclopaedia of New and Rediscovered Animals provides good reason indeed for believing that our world continues to holds many more animal surprises in store for future revelation.

The herp is on! Hans Breuer searches for a new pet ratsnake in Taipei restaurants, loses a coral snake in his living room, confronts a cobra in complete darkness, and assumes unorthodox yogic postures to photograph kraits, habus, and bamboo vipers. Between the tree ferns of Taiwan's lush, rugged mountains, this brilliant amateur naturalist draws us along to experience a fantastic variety of snakes, along with barking deer, flying squirrels, civets, pangolins, and other representatives of the island's immense biodiversity.

During his constant search for reptiles and amphibians, Hans introduces the best of Taiwan with quirky humor, while educating the reader in remarkable detail. His twenty-two years in Taiwan, his fluency in Mandarin Chinese, and his broad experience with all facets of Taiwan life, all complement and broaden his herpetological observations. We learn about family relations in Taiwan, food and drinking customs, how to deal with curious police officers, and the aboriginal relationship to Taiwan’s rich animal life. With this book in hand, you won’t need a plane ticket to enjoy the thrill of herping Taiwan, but after reading Hans’ adventures, you might just book your next vacation there!

The Caribbean monk seal was a significant and charismatic member of the tropical marine ecosystem of southern Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Author John Hairr delves into the fascinating history of a marine mammal that met its match in man, as overhunting for meat and oil (and even scientific specimens) drove it to extinction. Hairr looks at the intersections between this seal and the various cultures it encountered over the centuries, the narratives of a playful pinniped from the few times it was kept in captivity, and the expeditions that sought out any last remaining survivors of a vanishing species.

John Hairr has a passion for the natural wonders of the world, especially those in the southeastern U.S. and Caribbean region. A graduate of the University of South Florida and NC State University, his writing covers topics that include great hurricanes, wild rivers, marine mammals, and extinct wildlife. He has written books, documentary films, and articles for publications including Mercator's World, South Carolina Wildlife and Our State magazine. Hairr is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Great white sharks are a popular marine subject, but their biology, range, and behavior along the coastline of Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico are not well known, even to biologists and nature lovers, and sometimes hold surprises. John Hairr compiles what is known about these magnificent creatures along these southeastern shores, interviewing those who have actually encountered them: marine biologists, fishermen, divers, and others. Photos of great whites from this region over the years are included. (Several of those are from pre-ban fishing encounters.)

This full-color exploration of beauty and design in spiders from around the world has over 200 photos and offers a wide range of spider information, from identifying common spiders to details on significant aspects of physiology and behavior. From a jumping spider's "binocular-like" principal eyes, to mimicry in a number of families (of both animate and inanimate subjects), an aquatic spider, a net-casting spider, and many other fascinating aspects, there is much more to these creatures than a casual glance might show.

Lilian Brown was the second wife for American Museum of Natural History paleontologist Barnum Brown; bright, eager, and curious, she was quickly inaugarated into the lifestyle of the field paleontologist. They spent several years exploring the fossil beds of India and Burma, all the while Lilian hoping for a simple romantic honeymoon. Her story here has less to do with the fossils (though they are there), than with her experiences with the new and strange cultures around them. Humorous, adventurous, and sometimes sad, this will interest any student of natural history who wants to see a different perspective of life with a scientist.

Hamlin's two classic books on the history and descriptions of tourmaline crystals found at Mt. Mica, Maine, are collected together with full color plates. This is a fascinating look at one of the most famous gem mineral excavation sites in North America, and will be of interest to geology buffs and mineral enthusiasts.

Bog-Trotting for Orchids, first published in 1904, is the narrative of an enthusiastic amateur botanist who roams the marshes and fields of Pownal, Vermont, and surrounding areas, in search of orchids and other native flowers.

Illustrated in black-and-white and color images, this book offers a glimpse into a natural world that, today, is almost gone.

In this classic reprint, Gosse describes the diverse number of creatures found along the British seashores, illustrating them with 36 color plates. Gosse notes both physical and behavioral characters of interest, and points to the Creator's wisdom and design in His care for these animals.

In this classic reprint, Delmont describes his life, traveling around the globe, live animal trapping for zoos and circuses in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He gives a fascinating description of trapping techniques, as well as offering his notes on unusual behavior in species he studied.

With 41 species in North America, stick insects offer a fascinating challenge to the insect hobbyist. Whether seeking walkingsticks for photography, insect collections, natural history studies, or breeding stock, their natural camouflage is both a challenge to and incentive for the hunt.

This text offers a brief guide to the genera of stick insects found in the continental United States and Canada. Morphological characters are covered, which can be used with locality data and host plants to successfully identify both genus and species for each of the North American species. A representative distribution for each walkingstick is included, showing both state and counties for specimens recorded in published papers and held in museum collections across the country. There is also a bibliography of the most pertinent journal articles and published studies.

Also included are 18 classic reprints of systematic, behavioral, and ecological studies of North American stick insects.

Two articles from the Annals of Medical History discussing evidence of pathological conditions in various fossil animals, from the parasitized stem of a crinoid to spondylitis in fossil mammals to lesions on dinosaur bones.

Published in 1958, Ants as Pets was an early instructional booklet on creating a simple formicarium (ant house). Free download as PDF.

In this easy-to-read booklet, the Mintons offer tips to beginning rockhounds for locating and identifying agate in its various forms (beach agate, thunder eggs, agatized wood, etc.). This is a reprint of the third edition, published in 1958. Free download as PDF.