Natural History Books

Book SynopsisWhile the internet provides pet parents with a great deal of information, finding and understanding that information can be like wading through a bog at midnight without a flashlight. In spite of the internet, pet parents remain desperate for valid resources. Health and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats is timely, informative, and delivers sensible information on topics of importance to all pet owners. From reading pet food labels to storing food, from understanding appropriate calorie intake to food allergies, David Wellock helps readers better understand the dietary needs of their dogs and cats. In recent years, Americans have come to pay more attention to the foods they eat. This trend toward a healthier lifestyle quickly found its way into the world of pet foods, allowing better diets to find success in the marketplace. However, the change has been somewhat perplexing for pet parents as they struggle to sort out the various, and sometimes misleading, messages surrounding the new foods aTrade Review[F]ed up with being underpaid and underappreciated' at his long-time job, Wellock decided to purchase a 'down-but-not-totally-out' franchise of pet supply stores, and the wealth of knowledge he’s amassed since then selling dog and cat food is compiled in this thorough, pleasant manual. Wellock is a conscientious purveyor of pet foods with a knack for customer service. He occasionally lays out three or four varieties of kibble for his four-footed customers to taste-test. 'Pet parents' will appreciate Wellock’s good-natured tone, penchant for dad humor, and detail-oriented approach: in a chapter entitled 'How to Read a Pet Food Package' he gives thoughtful exegesis on ingredient lists from a 'poor-quality traditional dog food', a 'good-quality contemporary dog food', a 'grain-free diet' for a cat, a 'raw diet', a 'baked diet', and a 'dehydrated' meal. He decodes terms for mysterious, potentially troublesome ingredients like 'chicken by-product meal' and also covers hot topics like 'portion control' (citing a study which finds that most people with obese pets think their pet is not obese), 'mooching', and arthritis. It may be prudent to note that Wellock is not a veterinarian; however, he is thoughtful, well-informed, and cares deeply about your pets, despite having never met them. * Publishers Weekly *Wellcock explains why a high quality diet is so important to your companion's well being. He provides shopping tips on choosing the right food, which ingredients to look for and avoid, and the importance of variety, and also busts some common pet food myths[.] The book includes chapters on weight management, choosing healthy treats, and how nutrition can affect conditions like allergies, arthritis and dental issues. * Animal Wellness *More and more dog and cat owners realize their responsibility for making diet decisions that are individualized and sensitive to the environmental conditions that occupy a majority of the daily life of a treasured four legged family member. After reading this book, the pet parent will become an advanced advocate for honest foods with repeatable desirable outcomes. This book will enable a pet parent to more confidently decipher pet food marketing materials, and food labels, by using a gained appreciation for scientific facts, experience, and wisdom. I am confident this book will inspire great choices for all pet parents. -- Gary Pusillo, PhD, PAS, ACAN diplomat, board certified animal nutritionist, and AAFS associate memberHealth and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats. Bloody brilliant! This book is so well told it felt as if David Wellock were having a face to face conversation with me. This book will be a timeless reference for those seeking guidance about many aspects of their pets lives and health. It should almost be pre-requisite reading for people planning to add a dog or cat to their family. -- Andrew Redman, pet parentA great read! David Wellock has covered all the bases with a pleasing writing style sprinkled with wit and humor. I certainly recommend this book to franchise owners and pet-parents. -- Edward K. Loyst, chairman, Global Pet Food Stores Inc.David Wellock's Health and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats gave me many ideas which, in my work to free dogs from a chained and miserable existence, I can put to great use with our rescued canines. These dogs come from nothing, and I regularly see dogs who appear unkempt and unhealthy upon coming into rescue blossom into vibrant, shiny beings with a little TLC and high quality food. I believe David's advice is sound and he's funny too—an unbeatable combination. -- Tamira Ci Thayne, founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve BetterTable of ContentsIntroduction 1: The Rise of Pet Foods 2: Shopping For Your Pet’s Food 3: How To Read a Pet Food Package 4: More About Food 5: It’s Hard to Beat a Good Treat 6: Gazing Into My Crystal Ball 7: Weighty Issues 8: Nutrition and Osteoarthritis 9: Nutrition and Allergies 10: Dental Details 11: Urinary Disorders 12: The Scoop on Poop 13: Your Pet’s Pets 14: All Good Things Come To An End

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Book SynopsisKatharine Towers' second collection is a book of small wonders. From a house drowning in roses to crickets on an August day, from Nerval's lobster to the surrealism of flower remedies, these poems explore the fragility of our relationship with the natural world. Towers also shows us what that relationship can aspire to be: each poem attunes us to another aspect of that world, and shows what strange connections might be revealed when we properly attend to it. The Remedies is a lyric, unforgettable collection which offers just the spiritual assuagement its title promises, and shows Towers emerging as a major poetic talent.Trade ReviewThere is so much to praise about the writing: clarity, generosity and grace. There are no barriers between poem and reader. . .[Towers] writes with a marvellously gentle wit and a metrical intelligence. . .Quite how she manages the balancing act between entertainment and something that comes close to a prayer, that catches at your throat, is beyond me * Guardian *Each of these short poems shines with soft, lyrical grace; she writes about birds, flowers and objects in clear, generous language that reaches out towards the reader, embracing and never pushing away. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisA heartwarming true story of a small kitten who helped a family overcome tragedy and who, over the next 24 years, became that loving family's high priestess and guardian.Trade ReviewPossibly the next Marley & Me, Cleo, is an honest and un-mawkish true story of ordinary people rebuilding their lives after a tragedy, with the help of a kitten. Even non cat-lovers will be moved. * Good Housekeeping *Cat-lovers will be charmed and amused by Brown's lively description of the imperious way in which Cleo reconfigured a distraught household. And her generous and . . . admirably unsentimental account of Cleo's long life is a salutary reminder of the gratitude we humans owe to our companion animals. * Daily Mail *Possibly the next Marley and Me, Cleo, is an honest and un-mawkish true story of ordinary people rebuilding their lives after a tragedy, with the help of a kitten. Even non cat-lovers will be moved. * Good Housekeeping *Cat-lovers will be charmed and amused . . . a salutary reminder of the gratitude we humans owe to our companion animals. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisBefore crude oil and the combustion engine, the industrialized world relied on a different kind of power - the power of the horse. Horses in Society is the story of horse production in the United States, Britain, and Canada at the height of the species' usefulness, the late nineteenth and early twentieth-century. Margaret E. Derry shows how horse breeding practices used during this period to heighten the value of the animals in the marketplace incorporated a intriguing cross section of influences, including Mendelism, eugenics, and Darwinism.Derry elucidates the increasingly complex horse world by looking at the international trade in army horses, the regulations put in place by different countries to enforce better horse breeding, and general aspects of the dynamics of the horse market. Because it is a story of how certain groups attempted to control the market for horses, by protecting their breeding activities or 'patenting' their work, Horses in Society providTrade Review"This handsome book offers a telling glimpse into the often-charged world of horse breeding and horse trading in North America and Britain between 1800 and 1920." -- Lawrence Scanlan The Globe and Mail "A full and complex picture of horse culture." -- Karen Raber American Historical Review "Although draft animals have often been treated as footnotes to the rise of the machine, Margaret Derry demonstrates how a detailed treatment of horses can deepen the historical understanding of American and European societies." -- George B. Ellenberg "Horses in Society is a lucid and thoughtful journey into the world of the horse at its short-lived zenith, and of the society that honoured and sustained it." -- Max Foran University of Toronto Quarterly "Margaret E. Derry's Horses in Society is a remarkably interesting read ... This is a ground-breaking work that will resonate with social, business, and military historians alike." -- Warren M. Elofson Business History Review "An extremely valuable book that brings the history of science to bear on horse-breeding literature and sets both within the context of modern political economy." -- Ann N. Greene Canadian Historical Review "Horses in Society is a valuable contribution that will interest historians of science and technology, military historians, and anyone interested in the history of animals, economics or the nineteenth century in general." -- Darcy Ingram Scientia CanadensisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction * Modern Purebred Breeding: A Scientific or Cultural Method? Part One. The Breeding of Horses * The Light Horse * The Heavy Horse * The Farmer's Horse Part Two. An International Horse Market: The Remount Story * Finding Horses for the British Army * American Horses and War: A National and International Issue * Canada's Equine War Effort: A Story of Conflicting Interests Part Three. Governments and Horse Improvement * Understanding Heredity: The 1890 Report of the British Royal Commission on Horse Breeding * Producing Better Horses in the United States: Attempts to Control Fraudulent Activity and Market Share * The Canadian Experience in Horse Regulation: Continental and National Concerns Part Four. Society and Horses * Aspects of a Pervasive Horse Culture in Society Conclusion Notes Note on Sources Index

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Book SynopsisPixInsight has taken the astro-imaging world by storm. As the first comprehensive postprocessing platform to be created by astro-imagers for astro-imagers, it has for many replaced other generic graphics editors as the software of choice. PixInsight has been embraced by professionals such as the James Webb (and Hubble) Space Telescope's science imager Joseph DePasquale and Calar Alto's Vicent Peris, as well as thousands of amateurs around the world. While PixInsight is extremely powerful, very little has been printed on the subject. The first edition of this book broke that mold, offering a comprehensive look into the software’s capabilities. This second edition expands on the several new processes added to the PixInsight platform since that time, detailing and demonstrating each one with a now-expanded workflow. Addressing topics such as PhotometricColorCalibration, Large-Scale Pixel Rejection, LocalNormalization and a host of other functions, this text remains the authoritative guide to PixInsight.Table of ContentsPreface.- Acknowledgements.- About the Author.- Part 1: Preprocessing.- Chapter 1: Image Evaluation.- Chapter 2: Calibration and Integration.- Chapter 3: Cosmetic Correction.- Chapter 4: One-Shot Color.- Chapter 5: Star Alignment.- Chapter 6: Image Integration.- Chapter 7: Batch Preprocessing.- Part 2: Linear Post-Processing.- Chapter 8: File Preparation.- Chapter 9: Background Modelization.- Chapter 10: Introduction to Masks.- Chapter 11: Deconvolution.- Chapter 12: Linear Color Processing and Noise Reduction.- Part 3: Nonlinear Post-Processing.- Chapter 13: Delinearization and LRGB Combination.- Chapter 14: A Look Back.- Chapter 15: Nonlinear Noise Reduction.- Chapter 16: High Dynamic Range Compression.- Chapter 17: Contrast and Sharpness.- Chapter 18: Color Saturation.- Chapter 19: Fine Finishers.- Chapter 20: Archiving and Exporting.- Chapter 21: Learning by Example: One-Shot Color and Monochromatic Workflow.- Part 4: Special Processing.- Chapter 22: Multiscale, Drizzle, High Dynamic Range, and Comet Techniques.- Chapter 23: Narrowband Processing.- Chapter 24: Mosaic Processing.- Chapter 25: More Insight.- Afterword.- Index.

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Book SynopsisIn this darkly comical look at the sinister side of our relationship with the natural world, Stewart has tracked down over one hundred of our worst entomological foes—creatures that infest, infect, and generally wreak havoc on human affairs. From the world’s most painful hornet, to the flies that transmit deadly diseases, to millipedes that stop traffic, to the “bookworms” that devour libraries, to the Japanese beetles munching on your roses, Wicked Bugs delves into the extraordinary powers of six- and eight-legged creatures. With wit, style, and exacting research, Stewart has uncovered the most terrifying and titillating stories of bugs gone wild. It’s an A to Z of insect enemies, interspersed with sections that explore bugs with kinky sex lives (“She’s Just Not That Into You”), creatures lurking in the cupboard (“Fear No Weevil”), insects eating your tomatoes (“Gardener’s Dirty Dozen”), and phobias that feed our (sometimes) irrational responses to bugs (“Have No Fear”). Intricate and strangely beautiful etchings and drawings by Briony Morrow-Cribbs capture diabolical bugs of all shapes and sizes in this mixture of history, science, murder, and intrigue that begins—but doesn’t end—in your own backyard.Trade Review“A fascinatingly dark look at the world of wonders that buzzes, burrows and reproduces all around us... Stewart's research is prodigious and her writing precise, whether she's telling the tale of a caterpillar that looks like a tiny Persian cat or more about fleas than you ever wanted to know. Read this book and you'll always keep your gardening gloves on...Stewart concentrates on scarily diabolical bugs, to great effect.”—Seattle Times—Entertainment Weekly“If you’ve got an insect phobia, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if not, dig in, as Stewart gleefully archives more than 100 of earth’s creepiest crawlies.”—Entertainment Weekly—Smithsonian.com“There is a ton of well-researched, fascinating information with terrific and terrifying stories from history ... As Stewart writes, ‘we are seriously outnumbered.’ It’s best we know our enemies.”—Smithsonian.com—NPR's "Weekend Edition"“There are a number of interesting tidbits in this book, you know, things that you might want to work into a conversation.”—Linda Wertheimer, NPR’s “Weekend Edition”—NPR's "Fresh Air"“From bat bugs — yes, bat bugs — to banana slugs to the pork tapeworm, [Stewart] details the most infectious, most terrifying insects on the planet.”—NPR’s “Fresh Air”“I read your book, and I'm all itchy.”—Dave Davies,NPR’s “Fresh Air”“A word of warning: Some of the descriptions ahead might trigger your gag reflex.”—Terry Gross, NPR’s “Fresh Air”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel“Stewart offers witty capsule biographies of dozens of chitin horrors, from the African bat bug to the tsetse fly, with plenty of shout-out for the spiders who haunt our nightmares, including such familiars as black widows and brown recluses.” - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel—The New York Times"Wicked Bugsdefines bug in the amateur sense — that is, anything creepy-crawly, including worms, snails, slugs and other insects that are not, technically speaking, bugs. A true bug, Ms. Stewart acknowledges, has six legs and wings, like all insects, as well as piercing and sucking mouthparts. And wicked, she makes clear, lies in the eye of the beholder, whether you’re a Roman with scorpions falling into your eyes or a Marylander with stink bugs falling into your hair... Wicked Bugs has some good tips for gardeners, like putting out rolled-up newspaper or cardboard tubes at night to trap earwigs and dumping them into soapy water in the morning... In fact, no bug is truly wicked. It is just eating.”—New York Times —Kirkus Reviews“[Wicked Bugs] is not a comprehensive field guide but a smorgasbord of facts—ranging from horrible, painful or otherwise discomfiting—about bugs... Stewart’s prose is simple and to the point. She lets the little horrors she describes work in the reader’s imagination without any hyperbolic help from her. Guaranteed to cause sympathy itching and other discomfort.”—Kirkus Reviews—Washington Post“A cavalcade of terrors ... [Wicked Bugs] makes for an entertaining tour of creepy-crawly territory.”—Washington Post —Scientific American bog“This book covers many of the gross, frightening, disgusting, and awful things that bugs can do to you. And it’s COOL ... Bugs become less gross, and a lot more interesting, when put into the context of how they have changed human history.”—Scientific American blog —Knoxville News-Sentinel“I should have known it would gross me out, in a deliciously creepy kind of way. It's everything you didn't know you didn't want to know about insects…” – Knoxville News-Sentinel —The Oregonian“[Stewart] wrote this book to scare the bugs out of you…Stewart is not an entomologist, but she is a consummate storyteller with a curious mind.” – The Oregonian

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Book SynopsisCarolyn Highland's outdoor writing will drive readers and outdoor enthusiasts to get outside and experience all that the natural world has to offer.Out Here is a collection of essays that explores what the wilderness has to teach us about the human experience, using outdoor endeavours as extended metaphors for greater truths. Each carefully chosen piece embarks on a different physical and metaphorical journey: managing expectations and reality during a medical emergency in a 40-mile ski mountaineering race; staring down fear and consequences on exposed ski lines in Alaska; re-examining self-reliance and decision-making through heartbreak and snow science; and leaving room for unexpected magic as a female travelling through Patagonia.Highland's first book inspires a deeper connection to the wilderness, a deeper connection to ourselves, and will leave readers wanting more from this fresh new voice in mountain writing.

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Book SynopsisA lone wild wolf lives on a small group of uninhabited islands in British Columbias Salish Sea, surrounded by freighter, oil tanker and other boat traffic and in close proximity to a large urban area. His name is Takaya, which is the Coast Salish First Nations peoples word for wolf. Cheryl Alexander studied and documented this unique wolf for years, unravelling the many mysteries surrounding his life. Her documentation of Takayas journey, his life on the islands and the development of their deep connection is presented alongside a stunning collection of her photography. Through journal entries, interviews, and photographs, Takaya: Lone Wolf tells a story that is certain to inspire, enlighten, and touch the heart. It is the story of a wild animal, alone yet at peace.

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Book Synopsis*WATERSTONES WELSH BOOK OF THE MONTH*My Family and Other Animals meets The Secret Life of Cows: this rediscovered gem tells the charming tale of how a baby llama transformed a Welsh farming family forever.Things llamas like:Snaffling cherry brandy, Easter eggs, and the Radio Times.Curling up in ''tea-cosy'' position by the fire.Orbiting, helicoptering, and oompahing. Locking victims in the lavatory. Things llamas dislike:Being adopted mother to an orphaned lamb.Invitations to star on Blue Peter. Snowdonia's rainfall. The dark. Ruth Ruck's family live on a Welsh mountain farm, no strangers to cow pats on the carpet and nesting hens in the larder. When dark days strike, they embark on a farming experiment to cheer them all up but raising a baby llama proves more of an adventure than expected Reissued with a new foreword by John Lewis-

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Book SynopsisDiscover the true meaning of dog behaviour to form the deepest bond with your canine companion.What does it really mean when a dog rolls over and shows their tummy? They''re not always looking for a belly rub...Drawing on the latest research in dog psychology, this book reveals the secret meanings behind more than 80 canine behaviours, including the seven types of dog greeting and why some dogs eat your underwear!Packed with dogwatching tips and positive reinforcement training advice, this book will help you keep your dog happy, stimulated - and adorable!

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Book SynopsisI adore the fox for its magnificence; I hate the fox for killing my chickens. To love and loathe the fox is a British condition.The fox is our apex predator, our most beautiful and clever killer. We have witnessed its wild touch, watched it slink by bins at night and been chilled by its high-pitched scream. And yet we long to stroke the tumbling cubs outside their tunnel homes and watch the vixen stalk the cornfield. There is something about foxes. They captivate us like no other species.Exploring a long and sometimes complicated relationship, The Wild Life of the Fox captures our love and sometimes loathing of this magnificent creature in vivid detail and lyrical prose.

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Book SynopsisFrom leading climate scientist Dr. Friederike Otto, this gripping book reveals the revolutionary science that definitively links extreme weather events—including deadly heat waves, forest fires, floods, and hurricanes—to climate change.“Meet the forensic scientists of climate change; if you like CSI, you’ll be equally enthralled with the skill and speed these folks exhibit. But the stakes are infinitely higher!” —Bill McKibben, author of Falter and The End of NatureTied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest cyclone on record, Hurricane Harvey caused catastrophic flooding and over a hundred deaths in 2017. Angry Weather tells the compelling, day-by-day story of the World Weather Attribution unit—a team of scientists that studies extreme weather events while they’re happening—and their race to track the connection between the hurricane and climate change. As the hurricane unfolds, Otto reveals how attribution science works in real time, and determines that Harvey’s terrifying floods were three times more likely to occur due to human-induced climate change.At the forefront of cutting-edge climate science, Friederike Otto uncovers how the new ability to determine climate change’s role in extreme weather events can dramatically transform how we view the climate crisis: from how it will affect those of us who are most vulnerable, to the corporations and governments that may find themselves held accountable in the courts. The research laid out in Angry Weather will have profound impacts, both today and for the future of humankind.Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.Trade Review"A good overview of the climate-change issue, the evolution of climate change in the industrial era, the politics over the issue, and the responsibilities of the industrialized world—in particular, corporations and governments—to help repair the damage. The result is a most timely book."—Booklist"For the fact-minded, Otto's arguments are incontrovertible."—Kirkus Reviews"This elegant new branch of climate science [will] have profound implications for public policy and planning, and will lead to even more useful research in the future."—Vancouver Sun"Angry Weather is all about science, but it is not all technical. It is a readable book for those who have limited knowledge of weather and climate systems. Otto provides succinct scientific explanations throughout the book to ensure her main points are supported by science but still understandable and relevant to the main message."—Alternatives Journal"Attribution science—climate forensics, or reverse engineering—is a new discipline explained in this book with passion and verve by one of its creators. Fredi Otto is destined to be one of those rare scientists whose name becomes well known in the wider world."—Mark Denny, author of Making Sense of Weather and Climate: The Science Behind the Forecasts"Angry Weather introduces us to the forensic scientists of climate change; if you like to watch CSI, you'll be equally enthralled with the skill and speed these folks exhibit. But the stakes are infinitely higher!"—Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?"[A] thrilling work of nonfiction... If readers were holding any doubt about climate's effects on weather before picking up this book, that doubt will be eviscerated before the last gripping page."—Literary Hub"This fascinating book takes us on a voyage across the cutting edge of climate science that irrevocably alters our perspective of the world in which we live and the future it holds. I wish I could make this book required reading for the world."—Katharine Hayhoe, UN Champion of the Earth

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Book SynopsisDisgruntled tips and activities designed to put a frown on your faceFeaturing the sour expression of internet sensation Grumpy Cat: Internet sensation Grumpy Cat''s epic feline frown has inspired legions of devoted fans. Celebrating the grouch in everyone, Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book teaches the fine art of grumpiness and includes enough bad attitude to cast a dark cloud over the whole world. • Featuring brand new as well as classic photos, grump-inspiring activities, and games• Delivers unmatched, hilarious grumpiness that puts any bad mood in perspective• The original Grumpy Cat was a small cat with a big frown who inspired a hugely popular meme that made even the grumpiest people around the world smileTurn that smile upside down with the help of Grumpy Cat. Celebrating the grouch in all of us.• A perfect coffee table, bathroom, or bar top conversation-starting book• Makes a great stocking stuffer, holiday, birthday, or pick-me-up gift

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Book SynopsisWith stories of sighting rare birds ranging from an Eskimo Curlew to the cranes of Asia, one of America's foremost birders recalls a lifetime of birding adventures, including friendships with luminaries Roger Tory Peterson, Peter Matthiessen, and George Plimpton.Trade ReviewGeopolitically sensitive and savvy, and already looking ahead to habitat preservation, Mr. Emanuel was holistic from the very beginning…Mr. Emanuel's passion for birds was always placed within a larger philosophical framework. Yet even as he quotes one of the maxims at Delphi—'nothing in excess'—he can't help pushing to see, on a spring evening before a dinner party, 'just one more warbler.' Such love of discovery is the hum under the magical stories Mr. Emanuel tells. * Wall Street Journal *Table of Contents Prologue 1. Early Days 2. The Tropics 3. Freeport Christmas Count 4. The Bird of My Life 5. Beginnings 6. Meeting Curlew 7. The Triumph 8. Search for the Imperial Woodpecker 9. My Travels with King Penguin 10. The Mozart of Birding 11. New Territories 12. The Big Day 13. The Next Generation of Birders 14. End of the Earth 15. The Birds Of Heaven: Cranes, Asia, and Peter 16. Birding with the Bushes 17. Palace on Wheels 18. Birding on the Edge 19. Voyage on the Sea Cloud 20. My True Obsession 21. My World Epilogue Acknowledgments Suggested Readings Index

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Book SynopsisA practical guide aimed at beginners interested in learning about the Moon and how to image our closest satellite neighbour. The book contains the complete photographic process including equipment, settings, capture techniques, stacking and image processing, each of which is vitally important to producing a good image. The information is laid out in a visual and easy-to-understand format so that even the dark art of image processing will not seem quite so daunting. There are many high-quality colour photos of the Moon to help you learn about different lunar features and a list of 100 lunar targets identified as a challenge for you to find. All the targets have been captured by the author who provides a brief description of each feature and where it is located on the lunar surface. You will be surprised to discover the fine level of lunar detail which you can see from your back garden and once you start imaging, you will realise there is more to the Moon than meets the eye.

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Book SynopsisFrom domestic cats to shire horses to dromedaries, from farmyard Jersey cattle to pandas to stick insects, Animals Visual Encyclopedia is an exploration of the wonders of nature, featuring more than 750 of the world’s mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. Each featured animal is illustrated with an excellent full-colour artwork, showing in great detail its characteristics and colouring, and completed with an informative caption and a box of key facts including height, weight, diet and lifespan. With more than 750 outstanding colour artworks, Animals Visual Encyclopedia is an authoritatively researched book that celebrates the natural world and all its inhabitants.Table of ContentsIntroduction MAMMALS BIRDS REPTILES AMPHIBIANS FISH INVERTEBRATES Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisA delightful, warm, globetrotting exploration of the ways dogs are helping modern medicine.

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Book SynopsisKnow Your Ducks is designed for the novice enthusiast of any age. For each breed the right hand page is dedicated to a quality picture of the duck accompanied by a description of its appearance. On the facing page is a concise description of the breed's origins and its history. For many for the breeds Jack gives a description of their personality, egg laying and flying abilities and how they are best kept.Table of Contents1. Abacot Ranger 2. African Yellow Billed 3. Ancona 4. Australian Spotted 5. Aylesbury 6. Baikal Teal 7. Bali 8. Black-Bellied Whistling 9. Black East Indian 10. Bronze Winged 11. Call 12. Campbell 13. Carolina 14. Cayuga 15. Chiloe Wigeon 16. Eider 17. Gadwall 18. Garganey 19. Goldeneye 20. Harlequin 21. Indian Runner 22. Magpie 23. Mallard 24. Mandarin 25. Muscovy 26. Orpington 27. Pekin 28. Pintail 29. Red-Billed Pintail 30. Red-Crested Pochard 31. Redhead 32. Ringed Teal 33. Rosy-Billed Pochard 34. Rouen 35. Ruddy Shelduck 36. Saxony 37. Sharp-Winged Teal 38. Silky 39. Silver Appleyard 40. South African Shelduck 41. Swedish Blue 42. Tufted 43. Welsh Harlequin 44. White-Faced Whistling

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Book SynopsisStunning photographs and the all latest expert findings on the endangered but resourceful African Wild Dog.

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Book SynopsisGerald Durrell was a naturalist, author, media personality, conservationist and founder of both the internationally renowned Jersey Zoo and what is now known as the Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust. A passionate and inspiring advocate of the need for the conservation of animals and plants and their habitats, he was also a brilliant storyteller. His early family life forms the basis for the ITV drama, The Durrells.Though he had almost no formal education he became a prolific writer, publishing numerous articles and thirty-seven books including Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods, before his death in 1995, aged seventy.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Beautifully illustrated and fact-crammed guide. . . . Top marks."---Stuart Winter, Sunday Express"This is a stunning book in every way that a bibliophile or collector can imagine, and it's an inspirational book in every sense that a citizen scientist or a professional ecologist can wish for."---Grrl Scientist, Guardian"This is one of those books that I didn't know I needed until it arrived, and now that I do have it, I consider it an indispensable reference and simply cannot put it down as I plan my trip schedule for next year. This is also the first book of its kind that I've come across and, I am sure, will become a standard text for many other nature enthusiasts looking to make sense of the environment around them. This book sits comfortably alongside other reference works such as those on butterflies, moths, birds, plants and so on and . . . is highly recommended."---Pete Eeles, Dispar - The Online Journal of Lepidoptera"Essential reading for all wildlife enthusiasts, professional ecologists and landscape architects. . . . [I]t's an ideal field guide to the nation's nature." * Booktime *"The book opens up a treasure trove of previously unknown landscape, habitat and flora & fauna. . . . Anyone with an interest in the outdoors will thoroughly enjoy this book."---Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog"[B]oth inspiring and a wake-up call to anyone with an interest in the natural world . . . an invaluable reference resource as well as being an enjoyable read."---Matthew Merritt, Bird Watching"[E]xcellent and valuable . . . should be widely read by wildlife and landscape enthusiasts."---Rob Hume, Birdwatch"An essential companion to your species guides. Read it, enjoy it, take it into the field."---Anthony Robinson, British Wildlife"I like it . . . I like it a lot. This is a beautifully produced hardback volume that covers all of the main habitat types found across the islands of Britain and Ireland. Illustrated throughout with more than 680 colour photographs it is a visual feast . . . a good balance of information that's particularly well suited to the wildlife enthusiast, birder or anyone who loves the great outdoors and would like a better understanding of how it all fits together."---Calvin Jones, Ireland's Wildlife"Its detailed and authoritative treatment will make it a standard textbook for students and conservation professionals whilst its insightful content and attractive presentation will also guarantee its appeal to the general reader and amateur naturalist."---Andy Stoddart, Rare Bird Alert"Occasionally a book comes along the like of which you have never seen before. This is such a book. The beautifully produced work is a wonderful celebration of the rich diversity of Britain and Ireland's habitats, stunningly illustrated . . . This is much more than a coffee table book . . . The breadth of coverage and knowledge imparted is quite staggering. This is an essential reference book for anyone interested in our wildlife habitats, their extent, location, conservation, and much, much more."---Nigel Bourn, Butterfly Magazine"This is a highly impressive book. . . . As far as this reviewer is aware, there is no other printed work with this level of visual material describing and classifying the natural habitats of the British Isles."---Tony Chalcraft, Reference Reviews"The book is certainly crammed full of information and detail and any ecology student would do well to have this volume on their shelves."---Derbyshire Wildlife Trust"This book is highly recommended to anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of our plants and their habitats."---Ro Scott, Highland Naturalist"This is a must for your bookshelves." * Highland News *"This ambitious book succeeds in describing the range of habitat types that exist in Britain and Ireland in an informative but engaging way. For anyone wanting to learn more about the fabric and texture of the countryside, the book is an excellent starting point."---Rob Fuller, British Birds"I found this book a great pleasure to read and will be dipping into it frequently in the future. Anyone with an interest in the outdoors will love it and I would recommend without hesitation that it be placed on the reference shelves of every university, college, school and public library."---Anthony Toole, Waterstones"A lavishly illustrated book aimed at inspiring naturalists and country lovers. It should be required reading for environment ministers and their senior civil servants."---Michael Scott, Conservation Biology"Everyone should browse this book and, with deeper understanding, rejoice in the green and pleasant land in which we live--and consider how it might be maintained and improved for future generations"---Rob Robinson, BTO"It's a very informative piece of work and every birder should take a look either to refresh their fieldcraft or maybe to start them on the path of seeing the environment as a whole not just our normal narrow avian focus." * Fat Birder *"A very informative, clearly-written handbook, essential for modern day field workers."---John Badmin, British Journal of Entomology and Natural History"Authoritative guide . . . . an even more useful and attractive book than in its previous incarnation. Highly recommended."---Andy Musgrove, British Trust for Ornithology"Britain's Habitats shines in two regards: it makes for an excellent guide for those travelling through Britain (anywhere in the country), and it offers a deeper understanding of what nature has to offer."---Mihai Andrei, ZME Science"This is undoubtedly the best habitat book I have seen in a long time and will be an invaluable book to the beginner and expert alike."---Neville Davies, Gwent Wildlife Trust"Another excellent book in the wild guide series and it is perfect for planning a visit to a particular habitat and even now more functional as it can now be carried in the field. This is another essential addition to the naturalist’s library."---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association"It’s great to see that this wild guide bangs the drum for conservation. . . . The great thing about the wild guides is that you can visit an area and then look it up when you get a chance. Learning about habitats, how they work and how we can all help to protect them, is important to ensure our wildlife is protected for future generations." * Lapwing Magazine *"The authors have done an amazing job to cram so much useful knowledge into a pocket-sized book. . . . If I should ever be exiled to a desert island, this would be the book I would take to remind me of our particular, remarkable piece of this incredible planet."---Stephen Moran, Highland Naturalist"Whether you are seeking to better understand the landscape you see on your walks or are trying to get the hang of habitats for professional purposes, you couldn’t do much better than this book. No other habitat guide so effectively covers so much whilst remaining straightforward enough for anyone to engage with."---Gus Routledge, Scottish Birds

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Book Synopsis36 new illustrations from the now legendary anarchist illustrator, together with an introduction from the writer Richard Boston.

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Book SynopsisThe new book from the author of the Sunday Times bestseller, Millie Marotta’s Animal Kingdom. Lose yourself in the calming world of woodland wildlife. Whether it’s statuesque pines or a steamy tropical forest, you will discover a wealth of beautiful and intriguing creatures that dwell in the world’s forests – from foxes, fireflies and fallow deer to lemurs, leaf frogs and lady bugs. Millie’s much-loved intricate drawing style will be irresistible for those who love to colour. Meander through a world of towering trees, leafy canopies, exquisite blossoms and underground burrows to meet a huge array of animals that make the woods their home. Featuring species from across the globe, this is a celebration of the world’s forests – vibrant and teeming with life – guaranteeing hours of relaxation and colouring fun.Trade Review'A new book from colouring extraordinaire Millie Marotta is always an occasion, and we’re happy to report that her latest, Woodland Wild, is another sensational addition to her catalogue.' * Papercrafter *

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