Natural History Books

Book SynopsisThis book describes the natural and cultural history of an iconic and unusual woodpecker – a species that nests in tree cavities but which forages mostly on the ground. The Green Woodpecker, known in folk English as the Yaffle, is afforded comprehensive coverage in this work, with information on its origins, taxonomy, anatomy, appearance, moult, calls, distribution, conservation status, habitats, movements, breeding, diet and relationships with other wildlife and humans all presented. The text is richly illustrated throughout with quality photographs as well as sound spectrograms. Many eye-opening observations of Green Woodpecker behaviour are detailed. This all-encompassing and engaging account has been written for a wide audience, whether professional ornithologist, citizen scientist, amateur birder, woodpecker aficionado or simply someone who wishes to learn more about this curious and remarkable bird.Trade ReviewThe Green Woodpecker is extensively illustrated with captivating photographs and artwork which support Gorman’s narrative which is always authoritative, entertaining and fast-paced. -- James Wright, The Wryneck blogIf you want to know what we currently know about this species then this, undoubtedly, is the book for you. -- Mark Avery, author and environmental campaignerThis book is a must have for anyone with an interest in this species or with woodpeckers in general. -- Ian Paulsen, The Birdbooker ReportThis is a well-written book that brings together a wealth of information. Nobody has done more on a European scale to promote woodpecker issues than Gerard Gorman. -- Keith Betton, British BirdsWritten with a blend of scientific rigour and a narrative style, The Green Woodpecker invites both nature enthusiasts and curious minds to embark on a journey that deeps down into the species taxonomy, behaviours and conservation by highlighting the links between the bird and its surroundings. -- Letizia Campioni, AvocettaTable of ContentsAbout the author Acknowledgements Preface 1. Origins and Taxonomy 2. Anatomy and Morphology 3. Description and Identification 4. Moult, Ageing and Sexing 5. Relatives 6. Communication 7. Distribution, Population and Trends 8. Challenges and Conservation 9. Habitats 10. Behaviour 11. Movements and Flight 12. Breeding 13. Cavities 14. Tracks and Signs 15. Foraging and Food 16. Relationships 17. Folklore, Mythology and Symbolism References Index

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Book SynopsisWildflowers are not only beautiful, they are of vital importance in providing food for bees and other pollinators. And they are found everywhere - in meadows, woodlands, jungles, mountains, deserts, grasslands and even in towns and cities. This fabulously illustrated book showcases dozens of different species with over 130 flower and insect stickers to add to the delightful scenes. Each is carefully labelled to help you differentiate cornflowers from corn cockles and poppies from primroses.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling authors of Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura comes a nature book like no other—a dazzling, over-the-top collection of the world's most extraordinary wild species that takes you to all seven continents and beyond. It's more than a field guide–it's an adventure.  From the curious minds of Atlas Obscura, authors of #1 New York Times bestselling Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura, comes an unputdownable celebration of the world's living wonders. Learn how dung beetles navigate by the stars, and trees communicate through their roots. Meet one of the strongest animals in the world: the puny peacock mantis shrimp. Pay your respects to a 44,000 year old shrub, float along flying rivers, and explore a garbage dump overseen by endangered storks. Examine old examples of bird song notation written on sheet music. Also, first p

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Book SynopsisAn entertaining and charming collection of stories, poems and quotes, in celebration of cats.For eons, cats and humans have enjoyed a special bond. With their aloof yet undeniably adorable personalities, they have long been the object of fascination and inspiration. This beautiful little book celebrates the quirks and mysteries of our favourite furry friends and how they have endured as our most beloved pet.Featuring feline facts and entertaining tales, alongside an array of quotations and poems to entertain and delight in equal measure, this collection is packed full of purrls of wisdom, perfect for any cat lover. Featuring charming illustrations throughout, Quotes and Tales is an essential companion for cat parents everywhere.

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Book SynopsisAn exquisite, lovingly crafted meditation on plants, trees, and our place in the natural worldTrade Review“With . . . tender attentiveness to the non-human, [this] narrative speaks of more compassionate and resilient modes of existence than those devised by the perennially agitated makers of history.”—Pankaj Mishra, The Guardian, “Summer Reading”“Sumana Roy has written—grown—a radiant and wondrous book, which roots and branches in complex, provocative ways, helping us recognize trees for the ‘strange strangers’ they are, companion-citizens with which we think and remember, yes, but also alien beings that draw love, hate, indifference, and even lust from us humans.”—Robert Macfarlane, author of The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot“This is one of the most original, delightful, inspiring books I have read in a long time. It will enchant and move the reader with its unique imaginative mindset, its humorous touches, and its defiance of convention.”—Mary Evelyn Tucker, Yale University“A poetic, probing meditation on how trees are, to paraphrase Lévi-Strauss, ‘good to think with.’ Sumana Roy gives us a fresh and surprising look at a topic as old as the Epic of Gilgamesh, or to put it another way, almost as old as the oldest living trees.”—Robert Moor, bestselling author of On Trails: An Exploration“A genuinely exceptional work that is as poetic as it is scholarly—quirky, enlightening and enriching.”—Chandak Sengoopta, Birbeck College, University of LondonPraise for Sumana Roy: “A one-of-its-kind meditation. . . . Deliciously engaging.”—Supriya Sharma, Hindustan Times “Sumana Roy’s writing brims with rare originality.”—Areeb Ahmad, The Medley “An ode to all that is unnoticed, ill, neglected and yet resilient. . . . Roy’s true spiritual ancestor . . . is Annie Dillard. . . . Both Roy and Dillard craft remarkable, poignant sentences. Both have the ability to make mundane situations lead up to profound, even apocalyptic consequences.”—Rini Barman, Wire India “Sumana Roy’s book shimmers like silver poplar leaves.”—Sylvia Straube, Frankfurter Rundschau “A book like a jungle: from the wide sky to sticky leaves and unsightly thorns, everything is included.”—Susanne Billig, Deutschlandfunk Kultur

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Book SynopsisNew and updated edition 2019: A guide to fossils of the world and fossil hunting, including how to plan a field trip, with a fully illustrated directory of more than 375 fossils.

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Book SynopsisBe guided by the world’s favourite felines with this fabulous set of advice cards. Money problems? Consult Blackie the millionaire cat. Having a bad day? Ask the Cheshire Cat how he stays smiling. Lacking courage? Be inspired by Felicette, the first cat in space. Simply select a card from the pack, follow the advice inspired by the cat's personal philosophy and any obstacle will become surmountable. Contains 50 advice cards plus a booklet featuring the cats’ biographies and details of how to use the cards. As seen in Cat WorldTrade Review"For life-affirming advice, why not look to your favourite feline? Cat Gurus is the new spiritual seeker's vice with a tongue-in-cheek approach to tarot cards. Packaged in a gift box including a booklet introducing all the advice-giving gurus from the Cheshire Cat to Puss in Boots. The perfect gift for any cat-lover, and a fun activity at festive shenanigans." -- Evening Standard"Feline good with these advice cards – purrfect to live your life by." -- Sunday People

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Book SynopsisFor centuries, cats have been worshipped, adored and mistrusted in equal measure. This beautiful gift book contains a selection of essays, stories, and poems on cats by writers from across the ages. In these pages, writers reflect on the curious feline qualities that inspire such devotion in their owners, even when it seems one-sided. Cats' affections are hard-won and often fickle. Freud considered his cat an embodiment of true egoism; Hilaire Belloc found peace in his feline companion's complacency; and Hemingway-a famous cat-lover-wrote of drinking with his eleven cats and the pleasant distraction they gave him. Edward Gorey can't turn down a stray despite the trouble they cause him, and admits he has no idea what they're thinking about; Muriel Spark gives practical advice on how to teach a cat to play ping-pong; Nikola Tesla, who helped design the modern electricity supply system, describes a seminal experience with a cat that first sparked his fascination with electricity; and Caitlin Moran considers the unexpected feelings of loss after the death of her family cat. These writers, and many others (including Mary Gaitskill, Alice Walker, Ursula K. Le Guin, John Keats, James Bowen, Lynne Truss, and more), paint a joyful portrait of cats and their mysterious and loveable ways. As Hemingway wrote, "one cat leads to another." The book features six black-and-white cat portraits by photographer Elliot Ross.

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Book SynopsisAn essential field guide companion covering species pairs or groups that are difficult to identify. This book covers difficult identification issues by looking at tricky species pairs or groups of birds, and comparing and contrasting their respective features. Designed as a field companion, it supplements the standard field guides and provides much additional information. As well as detailed texts, the books include extensive illustrations of all relevant ages and plummages of the species concerned.Trade Review...a godsend to anyone wanting to tell a bar-tailed from a black-tailed godwit, a firecrest from a goldcrest or a greenfinch from a siskin. * Daily Express *...a helpful new book. ...It is carefully detailed but it is also agreeably written. * The Times *It does exactly as it says on the cover...a fine book * Sunday Express *...this is an indispensable addition to your library. * Scottish Birds *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction How to Use this Book Short Cuts to Identification Glossary Topographical Tips Moult and Ageing Species (22-375) General bibliography Specific bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTake a giant leap into lunar exploration with this collectible 54-card deck of moon playing cards honouring the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.

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Book Synopsis"Meshing deft scientific text with Tuttle’s sumptuous images, it’s a superb introduction to the baroque morphologies and flying prowess of these beguiling beasts."- NatureBats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species looks in detail at the more than 1,300 species known today. Nocturnal, fast-flying and secretive, they are endlessly fascinating, yet extremely difficult to observe and catalogue. The diversity of bats is both rich and underestimated and the threats they face from humans are very real. This guide illuminates the world of bats and reveals their true nature as intelligent, social and deeply misunderstood creatures.This extravagantly illustrated handbook features the work of famed nature photographer Merlin D. Tuttle and in-depth profiles of 288 bats, from the Large Flying Fox, which has a wingspan of more than five feet, to the Bumblebee Bat, contender for the world’s smallest mammal. Bats includes close-up images of these animals’ delicate and intricate forms and faces, each shaped by evolution to meet the demands of an extraordinarily specialized life, and a thorough introduction which explores their natural history and unique adaptations to life on the wing. If you like this you might also be interested in Owls by Marianne Taylor . . .Table of ContentsForeword 6 Introduction 8Bat Research 10 What is a Bat? 12 Evolution 16 Diversity 19 Biology 22 Behavior 30 Ecology 44 Bats & People 48 About this Book 57 Yangochiroptera accounts 58 Myzopodidae • Emballonuridae • Nycteridae • Furipteridae • Mormoopidae • Mystacinidae • Natalidae • Noctilionidae • Phyllostomidae • Thyropteridae • Cistugidae • Miniopteridae • Molossidae • Vespertilionidae Yinpterochiroptera accounts 298 Pteropodidae • Craseonycteridae • Hipposideridae • Megadermatidae • Rhinolophidae • Rhinonycteridae • Rhinopomatidae Index of Scientific Names 388 Index of Common Names 397 Acknowledgments & Biographies 400

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Book SynopsisWild Cats of the World provides detailed accounts for all 38 species of wild cat accompanied by magnificent artwork and stunning photography.From the rabbit-sized Black-footed Cat of southern Africa to bear-killing Amur tigers of the Russian Far East, the 38 members of the Cat Family include some of the world's most fascinating and magnificent species on earth. Supremely adapted for the kill, all cats are obligate carnivores; they survive only by preying upon other animals, and they have become one of evolution's most successful predatory lineages of mammals.Wild Cats of the World explores the spectacular Cat Family in unprecedented depth. Drawing on thousands of scientific papers and direct observations in the field, each species is profiled at length, covering all aspects of felid behaviour and ecology.The book is profusely illustrated with colour plates, black-and-white sketches showing important aspects of cat life and accurate images of every species' skull. Over 400 spectacular photographs are included, many of them showing extremely rare and little-known cats published here for the first time. Each profile includes an up-to-date range map and explains the most current science on how cats are classified and related to each other, including some very recent, surprising discoveries.Despite their great evolutionary success, the challenges facing felids in the modern world are profound. Only one, the ubiquitous domestic cat, does not require dedicated conservation action to ensure survival for the next century. The book also explores the current conservation issues facing wild cats, the increasingly perilous status of many species and how they can be saved.Trade ReviewThis is a must-have cat book: an absolute gem. * Stephen Mills, BBC Wildlife magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chinese Mountain Cat, Felis bieti Wildcat, Felis libyca/silvertris/ornata/catus Black-footed cat, Felis nigripes Sand cat, Felis margarita Jungle cat, Felis chaus Pallas's cat, Otocolobus manul Leopard Cat, Prionailurus bengalensis Flat-headed cat, Prionailurus planiceps Rusty-spotted cat, Prionailurus rubiginosus Fishing Cat, Prionailurus viverrinus Marbled Cat, Pardofelis marmorata Bay Cat, Catopuma badia Asian Golden Cat, Catopuma temminckii Serval, Leptailurus serval Caracal, Caracal caracal African golden cat, Profelis aurata Geoffroy’s Cat, Leopardus geoffroyi Oncillas Leopardus tigrinus and Leopardus guttulus Margay Leopardus wiedii Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis Guiña, Leopardus guigna Colocolo, Leopardus colocolo Andean Cat, Oreailurus jacobita Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx Spanish lynx Lynx pardinus Bobcat, Lynx rufus Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis Jaguarundi, Herpailurus yaguarondi Puma, Puma concolor Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus Snow leopard, Uncia uncia Clouded leopards, Neofelis nebulosa and Neofelis diardi Tiger, Panthera tigris Lion, Panthera leo Leopard, Panthera pardus Jaguar, Panthera once Species overview Conserving wild cats Further reading and resources Acknowledgements Image credits

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Book SynopsisThis book is a celebration of the disappearing world of ice and snow, or what scientists know as The Cryosphere. Although frozen water represents a significant component of Planet Earth, it is rapidly declining, both in area and volume in response to global warming. The next few generations of humanity will see unprecedented change in ice and snow cover, so now is the time to place on record the magical beauty of such areas.The two authors have each studied glaciers for half a century, both as researchers and educators. We have had the opportunity to work in both polar regions, as well as several of the world's major mountain ranges. They examine ice and snow on all scales, from the mighty glaciers and ice sheets that still cover ten per cent of Earth's land surface to frozen puddles and fluffy snow. We illustrate how a myriad of snowflakes are transformed into glacier ice, which then flows under the influence of gravity, and finally disappears through melting. They illustrate how glaciers have eroded Earth's surface to produce some of our most stunning landscapes, and the importance of deposition of debris to the provision of rich soils. They explore ice in the ocean, on lakes and in rivers, and the illustrate the delicate beauty of frost and snow. Finally, they show some of the ways in which plants, animals and humans interact with the Cryosphere.Our Frozen Planet serves as a reminder of what we are losing, but also gives us the courage to tackle the global climate emergency.

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Book Synopsis"Pack soup, cheese and a copy of How To See Nature by the Bard of Wenlock Edge and Guardian diarist."John Vidal With a title taken from the 1940 Batsford book, this is nature writing for the modern reader. Evans weaves historical, cultural and literary references into his writing, ranging from TS Eliot to Bridget Riley, from Hieronymus Bosch to Napoleon. It is a book both for those that live in the country and those that don't, but experience nature every day through brownfield edge lands, transport corridors, urban greenspace, industrialised agriculture and fragments of ancient countryside. The essays include the The Weedling Wild, on the wildlife of the wasteland: ragwort, rosebay willowherb, giant hogweed and the cinnabar moth; Gardens of Light, about the creatures to be found under moonlight: pipistrelle bats, lacewings and orb-weaver spider; The Flow, with tales from the riverbank, estuaries and seas, including kingfisher, minnow, otter and heron. The Commons looks at meadowland with a human footprint, with the Adonis blue butterfly, horseshoe vetch, skylark, black knapweed and the six-belted clearwing moth. The author also looks at the wildlife returned to Britain, such as wild boar and polecats, and finds nature in and around landscapes as varied as a domestic garden or a wild moor. The book ends with an alphabetical bestiary, an idiosyncratic selection of British wildlife based on the author's personal encounters.Trade Review'The ordinary becomes extraordinary in this fascinating book' -- Miriam Darlington * BBC Wildlife * `By celebrating [the natural world] so beautifully, Evans is playing as important a role in its conservation as anybody.' * Birdwatching *

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Book SynopsisThe Smell of Summer Grass is the story of the years spent in finding and building a personal idyll, sometimes a dream, sometimes a nightmare, by writer Adam Nicolson and his wife, cook and gardener, Sarah Raven.Without knowing one end of a hay baler from the other, Adam Nicolson and Sarah Raven, fed up with London and with life, escaped with his family to a run-down farm in the Sussex Weald. Looking for Arcadia, they found a mixture of intense beauty and profound chaos. Over three years they struggled with dock leaves, spring flowers, bloody-minded sheep and neighbours before eventually arriving at some kind of equilibrium.Funny, poetic, ironic and wise, The Smell of Summer Grass' is based partly on the long out of print ''Perch Hill''. It traces the growing intimacy between man and his chosen place, his love affair with it and his frustrations with its intractable realities. As an attempt to live out the pastoral vision, it makes one heartfelt plea: we should never abandon our dreams.Trade Review'Candid, observant and often very funny' Daily Mail 'A delightful memoir – a reminder that the very best writing starts at home' Robert McCrum, Observer Praise for ‘The Mighty Dead’: ‘Thrilling and unsettling … [a] wonderfully expressive alloy of travelogue, scholarship and advocacy, which broods with heartfelt grace … Nicolson's books always shine with the Homeric virtues of eloquence, passion, generosity, audacity and candour … He does them proud’ Boyd Tonkin, Independent ‘A beautiful study: full of insight, generosity and unaffected passion. The writing is exhilarating’ Guardian ‘A thrillingly energised book … it transmits a whole worldview at once decipherable and dramatically strange … To read Homer is to be struck by what Nicolson calls ‘time-vertigo’ – and this book is one that holds your hand and encourages you to peer over the edge. To read it is to have a fat pair of Homeric jump-leads attached from Nicolson’s sparkling and crackling faculties to your own’ Spectator ‘As gripping as a thriller and as delicately constructed as a sonnet … an astonishing tour de force that reveals Homer to be at once as ancient as papyrus and as modern as MTV … Not only does he have an inward understanding of how Homer’s poetry works, his own prose also has the sharp glitter of a poet’s eye’ Telegraph

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2017 ‘The best popular account of the lives of otters written so far’ Richard Shelton, Times Literary SupplementTrade Review‘He summarizes his observations by telling the detailed story of a mother and her young and the male otter with which they occasionally interact. He does so with the charm of a Kenneth Grahame but with the scientific rigour of modern behavioural science. It is the best popular account of the lives of otters written so far.’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Offers something new, and ultimately optimistic.’ New Scientist ‘Boldly imaginative and with great skill, conservationist Simon Cooper fictionalises the story of the otter family … Cooper's knowledge of otter behaviour is profound, but it's his brilliant storytelling that really brings the animals to life’ Daily Mail Praise for Simon Cooper: ‘I loved the gentle flow of this book and the insight into both a pastime and a wonderful corner of the land.’ BBC Countryfile ‘Cooper’s enthusiasm is so infectious’ Daily Mail ‘[Simon Cooper] is a renowned fly-fisher himself and, in this book, he writes as well as he casts […] delightful […] Mr Cooper is in love with chalkstreams and anyone who reads this splendid book will soon hold the same view.’ Country Life ‘We are taken on a delightful journey overflowing with passages that capture our imagination […] It is both uplifting and therapeutic’ Classic Angling

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Book SynopsisA beautiful, richly illustrated book on Europe's wild orchids perhaps the most enigmatic and popular group in the botanical world.The orchid family (Orchidaceae), numbering some 25,000 species, is one of the world's two largest families of flowering plants. Whilst the vast majority of orchids are found in the wet tropics, Europe accommodates c.130 native orchid species which are equally arranged in dense inflorescences of great beauty. Furthermore, the adaptations encountered in some of the European species are just as fascinating as those of their tropical relatives.This book provides an introduction to the native orchids of Europe. It features four sections: Structure and systematics', Orchids and the environment', Orchid portraits' and How to learn more'. This part constitutes the bulk of the book, presenting individual genera in a sequence which reflects their most likely evolutionary relationships. Each genus is introduced by one page of text and illustrated by one or more colour

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Book SynopsisAn eagerly anticipated addition to the New Naturalist series.The shieldbug is an amazing and beautiful species, rich with diversity in shape, form, size, life history, ecology, physiology and behaviour. But they are not commonly known, outside of specialist circles.Richard Jones' groundbreaking New Naturalist volume on shieldbugs encourages those enthusiasts who would otherwise be put off by the, to date, rather technical literature that has dominated the field, providing a comprehensive natural history of this fascinating and beautiful group of insects.Trade ReviewPraise for New Naturalist Shieldbugs:‘Informative and excellent … Very readable and will appeal to all amateur naturalists as well as scientists. I would recommend anyone with an interest in Shieldbugs or insects in general, to get a copy. This one will be added to my book shelf, and is already “well-thumbed”!’ Pauline Rutherford FBNA, British Naturalists Association Praise for Richard Jones’ previous New Naturalist, Beetles: ‘Highly recommended for the bookshelf of anyone wishing to be better acquainted with these remarkable insects.’ British Wildlife Praise for the New Naturalist series: ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book SynopsisAn eagerly anticipated addition to the New Naturalist series.The shieldbug is an amazing and beautiful species, rich with diversity in shape, form, size, life history, ecology, physiology and behaviour. But they are not commonly known, outside of specialist circles.Richard Jones' groundbreaking New Naturalist volume on shieldbugs encourages those enthusiasts who would otherwise be put off by the, to date, rather technical literature that has dominated the field, providing a comprehensive natural history of this fascinating and beautiful group of insects.Trade ReviewPraise for New Naturalist Shieldbugs:‘Informative and excellent … Very readable and will appeal to all amateur naturalists as well as scientists. I would recommend anyone with an interest in Shieldbugs or insects in general, to get a copy. This one will be added to my book shelf, and is already “well-thumbed”!’ Pauline Rutherford FBNA, British Naturalists Association Praise for Richard Jones’ previous New Naturalist, Beetles: ‘Highly recommended for the bookshelf of anyone wishing to be better acquainted with these remarkable insects.’ British Wildlife Praise for the New Naturalist series: ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book SynopsisCall it a daily meditation on the world around us for nature-lovers and nature newbies alike, An Irish Nature Year gleefully explores the small mysteries of the seasons as they unfold Who's cutting perfect circles in your roses? Which birds wear feathery trousers? And what, exactly, is an amethyst deceiver?An Irish Nature Year is an illustrated day book filled with plants, animals, birds and creepy-crawlies from all over the island of Ireland. With one short entry for every day of the year, nature columnist Jane Powers serves up 5 minutes' worth of wonderment to enjoy on your coffee break, on your commute, or to relax with at bedtime.From weeds' in the pavement cracks and surprising inhabitants of vacant lots, to unusual finds along our shoreline and hedgerows, you'll find more of the natural world to admire right under your nose, and relish the little things that mark the passing of the seasons across the ever-changing Irish landscape.Trade Review‘An Irish Nature Year by Jane Powers: you’ll love the cover…Very sweet day book filled with plants and animals and birds and creepy crawlies from all over the island of Ireland…really lovely’ – Ryan Tubridy ‘Written by the award-winning garden writer Jane Powers, now nature diarist for the Sunday Times, An Irish Nature Year is the perfect pocket-sized stocking filler for anyone with an interest in garden wildlife from speckled wood butterflies and summer snowflakes to spiders, swallows and field mice.’ – Irish Times ‘Jane’s knowledge of the wonders of nature all around her is immense… Developing such knowledge may take a lifetime, but dipping into the book during the months (it is published in diary form) will help us all to understand at least a small bit more of this rich tapestry’. – Irish Examiner

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Book SynopsisThe perfect companions for exploring the National Parks.Walking guide to the Broads National Park, with 20 best routes chosen by the park rangers. Each walk varies in length from 2 to 10 km and can be completed in less than 4 hours.20 best routes chosen and written by National Park rangersWalks from 2 to 10kmDetailed description for each walk with highlights clearly marked on the map along with an accompanying map and photographsGeneral information about the National Park plus basic advice on walkingThis and the Broads National Park Pocket Map (ISBN: 9780008439156) are the perfect companions for exploring this superb walking area of East Anglia.Trade Review“Walking guides from Collins will have you expertly traversing the landscape like a park ranger.” – Great British Life

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Book SynopsisShe has to be OK, I pleaded silently to myself. She has to be.We've alerted the RNLI and they're sending a lifeboat out.' The RNLI?' I said, surprised. They do that?' Saved from the Waves is a heart-warming collection of first-hand accounts from RNLI volunteers of the myriad dangers they face during each mission to save beloved pets, wildlife and livestock. This remarkable book shines a light on the bravery of the volunteers, and the necessity of these rescues not only to save animals at risk of drowning, but to prevent people putting themselves in danger when trying to save a cherished furry friend.Each mission requires courage, determination and an unrelenting commitment to helping those in danger. Each day brings a new challenge for the extraordinary volunteer crews who are the lifeblood of the RNLI.

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Book SynopsisShare[s] the life-enhancing joys of the humble hen' Sunday TimesClocks our obsession with chicken-keeping Brilliant' New York MagazineAn immersive blend of chicken-keeping memoir and animal welfare reporting by a journalist who accidentally became obsessed with her flock.Since first domesticating the chicken thousands of years ago, humans have become exceptionally adept at raising them for food. Yet most people rarely interact with chickens or know much about them. In Under the Henfluence, Tove Danovich explores the lives of these quirky, mysterious birds who stole her heart the moment her first box of chicks arrived at the post office.From a hatchery in Iowa to a chicken show in Ohio to a rooster rescue in Minnesota, Danovich interviews the people breeding, training, healing and, most importantly, adoring chickens. With more than 60 billion chickens living on industrial farms around the world, they're easy to dismiss as just another dinner ingredient. Yet Danovich's reporting revealsTrade Review‘Share[s] the life-enhancing joys of the humble hen’ Sunday Times ‘A call to arms, but in an entertainingly written, well-paced way. It certainly makes you think.’ Kate Green, Country Life ‘Under the Henfluence clocks our obsession with chicken-keeping. Highbrow / Brilliant.’ New York Magazine ‘Not intended to be a how-to for amateur poultry breeders, Danovich’s work does offer broad and compelling insight into how raising chickens transforms and enriches human lives.’ Booklist ‘The author writes with warmth and candour, sharing her obvious love for her feathered pets … Informative and engaging’ Bookmunch ‘A heartfelt account of raising pet hens … [that] endears and provides an intimate look at animals more often thought of as food than friends … Anyone who’s mulled the possibility of setting up a backyard coop will find this the next best thing.’ Publisher’s Weekly ‘A delightful peep into an old business, refreshed for a new generation’ Aimee Nezhukumatathil, New York Times bestselling author of World of Wonders ‘A moving tribute to the world’s most numerous birds. It will change the way you look at chickens.’ Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why it’s so hard to think straight about animals ‘Danovich’s book is a gem’ Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals ‘A realistic and immersive look into our relationship with those beings in our care … Under the Henfluence makes it impossible for the reader not to think of – and possibly love – the idea of chickens in a new way.’ Mira Ptacin, Modern Farmer ‘The company of hens could be the best cure for depression … Their jostling energy and distinct personalities bring joy … Interweaving reflection and reportage, Danovich leads us down [these and other] bizarre byways’ Spectator

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Book SynopsisBig Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It comprises classroom resources to support the SSP programme and a range of phonic readers that together provide a consistent and highly effective approach to teaching phonics.Discover the amazing habits of the arctic tern in this non fiction book. See how far they migrate!

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Book SynopsisWe all know dogs make the best travel companions, so why not create memories you'll both treasure for a lifetime? Instead of walking the same old paths, be inspired to sniff out the best dog-friendly hotspots the UK has to offer. From unspoilt beaches that stretch for miles, to picturesque market towns and stunning marshlands, in these pages you will find 35 new locations to explore.With tips on the best places to eat and stay with your pup, as well as recommendations for where to find new activities like dog-friendly seal boat trips (Norfolk), indoor play areas designed exclusively for dogs (Manchester), or gorgeous scenic narrow-gauge railways (Gwynedd), Follow My Lead is your (and your dog's) one-way ticket to new adventures.Grab your lead and go!

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"There is no doubt in my mind that the ocean plays the most massive role in our past, present, and future—from transportation to planet health to long term sustainability. The Deepest Map shines a light on this massive yet ever-changing force and helps bring into focus so many unanswered questions, while giving us a beautiful reminder of how important it is to educate and protect these waters to the best of our abilities." — Garrett McNamara, Big Wave surfer, co-creator of the documentary series 100 Foot Wave and author of Hound of the Sea "Wow, what a great adventure story. Shipwrecks, octopus gardens, coral reefs as tall as the Empire State Building, 11,000 year-old sponges, deep sea robots—it’s a trip to another world, right here on Earth. This is not just a book about the epic quest to map the ocean floor, but an exploration of the mysteries and life of a planet we hardly know. The Deepest Map is one of those rare books that will change the way you see our world." — Jeff Goodell, author of The Water Will Come "A riveting ocean of a book, packed with gripping adventures, high-stakes exploration and political intrigue. Trethewey leads us to the bottom of the sea and deftly shows why it all matters so much." — Helen Scales, author of The Brilliant Abyss "The Deepest Map is a fascinating, poetic love letter to our planet and to the scientists and explorers risking their lives to understand its unconscious. With exhaustive reporting, Trethewey takes us on an awe-inspiring and humbling adventure that makes us realize how much we still have to learn about our home." — Jaimal Yogis, author of All Our Waves Are Water "An engrossing look at deep-sea exploration. Essential reading for environmentalists, armchair adventure divers, and those who care about the world’s oceans." — Kirkus (Starred Review) "Trethewey’s sharp eye for character brings out the humanity in the marine moonshot. It’s worth exploring." — Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisHigh in the Canadian Rockies is a small limestone quarry formed 530 million years ago. Called the Burgess Shale, it holds the remains of an ancient sea where dozens of strange creatures lived - a forgotten corner of evolution preserved in incredible detail. In this book Stephen Jay Gould explores what the Burgess Shale might tell us about evolution and the nature of history.The Darwinian theory of evolution is a well-known, well-explored area. But there is one aspect of human life which this theory of evolution fails to account for: chance. Using the brilliantly preserved fossil fauna of the Burgess Shale as his case study, Gould argues that chance was in fact one of the decisive factors in the evolution of life on this planet, and that, with a flip of coin, everything could have been very different indeed.Trade ReviewA masterpiece of analysis and imagination...It centres on a sensational discovery in the field of palaeontology - the existence, in the Burgess Shale... of 530-million-year-old fossils unique in age, preservation and diversity...With skill and passion, Gould takes this mute collection of fossils and makes them speak to us. The result challenges some of our most cherished self-perceptions and urges a fundamental re-assessment of our place in the history of life on earth * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsisonly after childhood ended was he aware of the price the adults had paid for life in this most romantic of settings.Navigating family tensions and the trials of growing up, Will describes the close-knit community of North Yorkshire and his family's place within it: the shepherd probing the head-high snowdrifts for his flock;Trade ReviewA love letter to a family defined by a desire to make beauty and a gift for telling stories. The Wolf Pit has more quietly desperate heroism than any book I’ve ever read. -- Brian Morton * Sunday Herald *Persuasive, atmospheric writing. A love letter to a past world * Sunday Times *Bittersweet * The Times *The book takes on an existential desire to understand who we really are * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe village of Mark on the Somerset Levels is a watery wonderland, rich in wildlife: rooks and roe deer; sparrows and snowdrops; buzzards, badgers and butterflies; the iconic brown hare and the spectacular hummingbird hawk-moth. This title is both the story of a small corner of the West Country and a celebration of the natural world.Trade ReviewDelightful, soothing and informative * Daily Mail *An enchanting book, Wild Hares and Hummingbirds is a combination of celebration for what is and regret for what is passing. It is elegiac * Daily Express *An enchanting month-by-month guide to "the natural history of an English village". As richly evocative of January as of June, Moss captures the flora and the fauna of his Somerset home with a grace and charm to warm the coldest winter night * Independent *[A] charmingly produced book…readers are in the hands of an expert -- Steven Barfiel * The Lady *This engaging account…should spark interest in country-dwellers and provide a transporting read for townies. In his placid style, Moss is profoundly informative -- Christopher Hirst * Independent *

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Book SynopsisFrom ash die-back to the Great Storm of 1987 to Dutch elm disease, our much-loved woodlands seem to be under constant threat from a procession of natural challenges. Just when we need trees most, to help combat global warming and to provide places of retreat for us and our wildlife, they seem at greatest peril. But these dangers force us to reconsider the narrative we construct about trees and the roles we press on them.In this now classic book, Richard Mabey looks at how, for more than a thousand years, we have appropriated and humanised trees, turning them into arboreal pets, status symbols, expressions of fashionable beauty - anything rather than allow them lives of their own. And in the poetic and provocative style he has made his signature, Mabey argues that respecting trees'' independence and ancient powers of survival may be the wisest response to their current crises. Originally published with the title Beechcombings, this updated edition includes aTrade ReviewWonderfully subversive, far-reaching and unsentimental * Observer *Richard Mabey is a man for all seasons, most regions and every kind of landscape -- Andrew Motion * Financial Times *An elegant and heartfelt essay on mankind's changing relationship with trees * Sunday Telegraph *A leaf-storm of philosophical musings, journeys of mind and body, reflections and anecdotes that imprint the tree on human culture * Sunday Times *A terrific combination of both natural and intellectual history, informed by penetrating insight * Independent *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR''A beautiful and thoughtful exploration of the role of the horse in creating our world'' James Rebanks''Scintillating, exhilarating ... you have never read a book like it ... a new way of considering history'' ObserverThe relationship between horses and humans is an ancient, profound and complex one. For millennia horses provided the strength and speed that humans lacked. How we travelled, farmed and fought was dictated by the needs of this extraordinary animal. And then, suddenly, in the 20th century the links were broken and the millions of horses that shared our existence almost vanished, eking out a marginal existence on race-tracks and pony clubs.Farewell to the Horse is an engaging, brilliantly written and moving discussion of what horses once meant to us. Cities, farmland, entire industries were once shaped as much by the needs of horses as humans. The intervention of hoTrade ReviewA beautiful and thoughtful exploration of the role of the horse in creating our world... lyrical and creative...I very much enjoyed it. Some of the scenes in it will stay with me for a long time to come * James Rebanks *Intellectual and passionate ... Raulff's material is gloriously diverse ... [a] refined and ambitious book * The Sunday Times *It becomes evident within three paragraphs that you have never read a book like it ... his writerly pace is exhilarating -- Kate Kellaway * Observer *Covers ground as rapidly and thrillingly as a Cossack horseman. It lays bare a dizzying network of connections and repeatedly offers unfamiliar approached to old themes * Literary Review *Sex, violence and 6,000 years of horse power... an elegy to the way horses have galloped through our culture' -- Melanie Reid * The Times *This is not the Pony Club Manual or a trot through the more familiar sights of equestrian art history; it's Kafka, Aby Warburg, Tolstoy, psychoanalytic theory, Nietzsche and bleak monochrome photos in the style of Sebald. This epic enterprise is relieved by Raulff's spare, vivid style and deep learning -- Susannah Forrest * Literary Review *A brilliant, entertaining tour-de-force * Die Zeit *Amazing insights sweep through the book - an entrancing history packed with stories * Neue Zürcher Zeitung *Great cultural history * Der Tagesspiegel *Ulrich Raulff is a wonderful storyteller * Südwestrundfunk *A fabulous book -- Uli HufenAn exciting and entertaining ride through various landscapes -- Harry NuttStrange and fascinating . . . A sweeping cultural history, more kaleidoscopic than totale, as bibliographical as it is historical . . . Farewell to the Horse is a whirlwind that seems capable of drawing into its vortex almost anyone who ever thought of a horse. -- Verlyn Klinkenborg * New York Review of Books *A remarkably nimble, creative thinker . . . Raulff's text is somehow dreamy but not sentimental . . . A brilliant examination of our complicated and violently unilateral relationship with Equus caballus . . . Though this book is about horses, it is just as much about thinking as a devotional act. -- C. E. Morgan * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisOur senses are very limited compared to those of other species; some animals see ultraviolet light, communicate using electricity, or navigate long distances with magnetic information. Martin Stevens discusses the remarkable senses in nature and what they are used for, uncovering how they work and how they are shaped by ecology and the environment.Trade Reviewa riveting new volume that explores the extraordinary senses of animals....This volume brings the wonders of these sensory worlds to a more general audience. * Michael J. Ryan, Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol.97, no.1 *While paying its dues to those amazing abilities of animals, Secret Worlds has some very intriguing things to say about the evolution and plasticity of the sense - and above all, the cost of acquiring them. [... ] One can only hope that Stevens will return with fresh insights in a few years. * Simon Ings, New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface 1: A Plethora of Senses 2: Singing Mice and Painting Pictures with Sound 3: For My Eyes Only 4: Electric Attraction 5: Stars of the Tactile World 6: Smelling in Stereo 7: Homing Turtles and Animal Magnetism 8: A Changing World

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Book SynopsisConsidered a classic at the time of its publication in 1910, A Shepherd''s Life is a rare account of the lives of those who lived on and worked the land in nineteenth-century rural Britain. A masterful work of prose, W. H. Hudson focuses on the story of one man, a Wiltshire shepherd named Caleb Bawcombe, whose tales of sheep dogs, farmer''s wives, poachers and local fairs become a sublime account of a way of life that has largely disappeared from these shores.

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Book SynopsisThe young naturalist W. N. P. Barbellion described this remarkably candid record of living with multiple sclerosis as ''a study in the nude''. It begins as an ambitious teenager''s notes on the natural world, and then, following his diagnosis at the age of twenty-six, transforms into a deeply moving account of battling the disease. His prose is full of humour and fierce intelligence, and combines a passion for life with clear-sighted reflections on the nature of death. Barbellion selected and edited this manuscript himself in 1917, adding a fictional editor''s note announcing his own demise. This Penguin Classics edition includes ''The Last Diary'', which covers the period between submission of the manuscript and Barbellion''s actual death in 1919.Trade ReviewHis work has permanent value -- Arnold Bennett Letter to Barbellion's widow Among the most moving diaries ever created -- Ronald Blythe Each Returning Day: The Pleasure of Diaries A furious, sometimes ecstatic, volatile little book -- William Atkins Guardian His is the greatest diary a man has written -- Thomas Mallon A Book of One's Own: People and Their Diaries As great in its own right as anything which James Joyce was to write -- James Mildren Western Morning News

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Book SynopsisHenry Gilbey is a well-known angler, and his love for fishing has led him to write numerous books, present various programmes, take incredible photographs, and offer invaluable advice on this subject. His work takes him all around the world to seek out the most photographic places to fish. He also writes and photographs for numerous publications including The Field, Sea Angler, Trout Fisherman, and many others.

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Book SynopsisDiscover how to keep your garden in the best of health.Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Pests & Diseases contains everything you need to know to prevent and treat a wide range of plant pests, diseases, disorders, and more. Far more than a simple list of treatments, this book shows you how to keep plants in top condition, recognise the signs of ill-health, and decide whether or not intervention is needed, while the fully illustrated ailment directory is organised by symptom and plant type for quick and easy identification.Packed with practical, jargon-free know-how, this easy-to-use guide has everything you need to know to help your garden Grow.

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Book SynopsisAstonishing, studio-quality photographs of beautiful objects and specimens bring every corner of the planet, from core to atmosphere, to the printed pageElegant design combined with beautiful images to explore and explain Earth's natural riches. This is an informative, visually arresting introduction to planet Earth. The core of the book features large, detailed photographs of single objects, many of them small enough to be held in the hand, that each speak volumes about an aspect of Earth's environments and how they work. For example, bubbles of ancient air trapped inside an Antarctic ice core reveal how Earth's climate has changed over time. A piece of pumice thrown several miles into the air by a volcano helps to explain what happens when tectonic plates collide. The book is structured around an imaginary journey that takes the reader from the inner core to Earth's surface (including both land and oceans) and up to the top of the atmosphere. Taking in environments such as grassl

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Book SynopsisUnleash your dog''s potential and build a rewarding relationship that will last a lifetime!From walking on a loose lead to carrying the shopping, The Beginner''s Dog Training Guide has everything you need to know to train your dog and ensure you have a happy canine companion. Choose the right dog breed for you and then keep your dog healthy by understanding their exercise, diet, and grooming needs. Follow clear, step-by-step explanations and illustrations to learn every aspect of owning and training a dog, from basic obedience to advanced tricks.Expert advice accompanied by over 800 clear photographs provide a user-friendly visual guide to training your dog, by showing you exactly what to do. Filled with tips and tricks, this book will help you become the owner of a well-behaved, healthy, and happy dog!This dog training book promises:- An easy-to-follow approach to understanding dog behaviour and dog training based on the latest r

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Book SynopsisDr Chris Thorogood is a botanist at the University of Oxford, and an illustrator and public speaker. Chris's research areas include the evolution of parasitic and carnivorous plants and taxonomic diversity in biodiversity hotspots, such as the Mediterranean Basin. Chris won a scholarship in 2005 to carry out his PhD research on speciation in parasitic plants at the University of Bristol, for which he was awarded a Faculty Commendation, and the national Irene Manton Prize for best thesis in botany in 2009. Chris is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London and a Junior Research Fellow of Linacre College, Oxford.

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Book Synopsis''Extraordinary'' Leonard Susskind''A rare event'' Sean Carroll_____When leading theoretical physicist Professor Michael Dine was asked where you could find an accessible and authoritative book that would teach you about the Big Bang, Dark Matter, the Higgs boson and the cutting edge of physics now, he had nothing he could recommend.So he wrote it himself.In This Way to the Universe, Dine takes us on a fascinating tour through the history of modern physics - from Newtonian mechanics to quantum, from particle to nuclear physics - delving into the wonders of our universe at its largest, smallest, and within our daily lives. If you are looking for the one book to help you understand physics, written in language anyone can follow, this is it._____''A tour de force of literally all of fundamental physics'' BBC Sky at Night magazine''Everything you wanted to know about physics but were afraid to ask'' Priyamvada NatarajaTrade ReviewThis book is a rare event: a grand overview of the leading ideas in modern fundamental physics, presented by someone who is a true master -- Sean Carroll, author of From Eternity to HereThis book, written by one of the great masters of modern physics, is an extraordinary journey into what we know, what we hope to know, and what we don't know, about the universe and the laws that govern it -- Leonard Susskind, author of The Theoretical Minimum seriesIt is not an easy task to take the complexities of theoretical physics . . . and translate it into common prose. It is even more difficult to make it accessible to the lay enthusiast. The author has done an admirable job and hasn't shirked away from many of the more difficult and arcane topics. As a comprehensive and uncompromising tour de force of literally all of fundamental physics, there can be few better alternatives * BBC Sky at Night magazine *Renowned physicist Michael Dine takes us from the innards of the atom to the depths of black holes in this readable . . . celebration of science's most mind-bending discipline. The text is conversational and full of delightful asides . . . Dine's enthusiastic storytelling makes the read worth it for those who want to finally wrap their mind around string theory or the Higgs boson -- Tess Joosse * Scientific American *Michael Dine takes the reader on a fascinating and wide-ranging tour of the world of physics, both theoretical and experimental, emphasizing the remarkable discoveries that make up modern physics and the daunting challenges that remain. Dine is a leader in theoretical physics and tells the story of the last few decades based on his own personal experiences and involvement -- Edward Witten, theoretical physicist and professor at the Institute for Advanced StudyEverything you wanted to know about physics but were afraid to ask. This Way to the Universe is a fascinating and sweeping tour of the history of ideas in modern physics and cosmology from a remarkable theoretical physicist and engaging storyteller. A riveting read, the book offers a ringside view to many of the latest theoretical and experimental developments from a key protagonist. A treat for the intellectually curious -- Priyamvada Natarajan, author of Mapping the HeavensDine delivers a detailed, if often sceptical, account of the great questions and often unsatisfactory answers to problems in astro- and quantum physics, examining such topics as the Big Bang, inflation theory, galaxy formation, black holes, dark matter and energy, string theory, and supersymmetry . . . Excellent popular science * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisDo you speak to your cat? Do you feel your cat understands you and vice versa?Cat lovers across the globe know cats can speak. In this compelling new book, Susanne Schotz a professor at Sweden's Lund University shares insights into her long-standing cat communication research. Proving that cats not only speak to one another, but also to their human caretakers.This clever book teaches us how to better understand our cats by translating their sounds, recognising their meaning in different situations and giving practical tips to understand them better.Unlocking the cat code, this crash course in cat phonetics is the perfect gift for cat-lovers everywhere.

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Book SynopsisFrom an award-winning former law enforcement park ranger and investigator, this female-driven true crime adventure follows the author's quest to find missing hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail by pairing up with an eclectic group of unlikely allies.

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Book Synopsisєєєєє Cesar''s methods have worked wonders, and I have found it the gentlest of methods.єєєєє A truly brilliant book Learn how your dog really feels and why they behave how they do, thanks to New York Times No 1 bestseller Cesar Milan.In CESAR''S WAY, Cesar Millan - US dog expert and star of National Geographic Channel''s hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - helps you see the world through the eyes of your dog so you can finally eliminate problem behaviours. You''ll learn: What your dog really needs may not be what you''re giving him Why a dog''s natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship How to relate to your dog on a canine level There are no ''problem breeds'', just problem owners Why every dog needs a job How to choose a dog who''s right for you and your family And much more! Filled with fascinating anecdotTrade ReviewIcon to dog owners all over the world... The man is a dog wizard, a genius * Anne Shooter, Daily Mail *'[Millan is] serene and mesmerizing . . . He deserves a cape and mask'. * New York Times *[Cesar] arrives amid canine chaos and leaves behind peace. * Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the world's birds, their homes, and their eggs in this gorgeously illustrated, entertaining, and educational guide.Did you know that the tailorbird sews leaves together to make its nest? Or that hummingbird eggs are the size of jellybeans? Birds are some of the world's most beautiful and interesting creatures, and their nests and eggs are no exception, displaying a stunning diversity of shapes, sizes, functions, and materials. In Nests, Eggs, Birds, celebrated artist and author Kelsey Oseid explores the fascinating ins and outs of where and how dozens of avian species--robins, birds of paradise, crows, owls, penguins, and more--make their homes and lay their eggs. Full of striking naturalistic art and fun scientific facts, Nests, Eggs, Birds will delight bird lovers of all ages.

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