The skull--the collection of bones that house and protect a creature's brain and sensory organs--is the key anatomical feature used to identify an animal and understand many of its behaviors. This book describes in words and pictures the bones and regions of the skull important to identification, including illustrations of all the bones in the cranium, leading to a greater understanding of a creature's place in the natural world. Life-size drawings and detailed measurements make this guide an invaluable reference for wildlife professionals, trackers, and animal-lovers alike.

    Experienced birders use the most easily observed characteristics — size, structure, behavior, and general color patterns — to identify birds even before looking carefully at plumage details. Now birders at all levels can learn how to identify shorebirds quickly and simply. This guide includes more than 870 stunning color photographs, starting with a general impression of the species and progressing to more detailed images of the bird throughout its life cycle. Quiz questions in the captions will engage and challenge all birders and help them benefit from this simplified, commonsense approach to identification.

    It describes and illustrates 1220 commonly encountered species, both native and nonnative, including perennials, annuals, and shrubs. Encompassing the Pacific Northwest from southern British Columbia to northern California, from the coast to the mountains and high desert, this handy book is perfect for hikers, naturalists, native plant enthusiasts, and anyone wishing to learn about the amazingly diverse wildflowers of the region. Organized by flower color and shape, and including a range map for each flower described, it is as user-friendly as it is informative.

    Judy Burris and Wayne Richards include more than 400 full-color, up-close images that present the life cycles of 23 common North American butterflies in amazing detail. Watch caterpillars hatch from eggs, eat and grow, form into chrysalides, emerge as colorful butterflies, and fly through the air. You’ll also learn which plants butterflies avoid and which native species they’re attracted to, so you can create your own backyard butterfly haven.

    Combining anecdote, scientific theory and practical field experience, The Sound Approach to Birding is a step-by-step guide through tone, pitch, rhythm, reading sonograms, acoustics, and using sounds to age and sex birds. It explains how bird sounds are often the first indication of previously unrecognized taxonomic splits, and explains how to identify them.With The Sound Approach, you can maximize the use of sound in enhancing your field skills, and improve your standards of identification, whatever the level of your experience.

    

    

    For each breed, you'll find a full-page photo accompanied by a thorough description and information on history, special qualities, best uses, and where the breed originated. Homegrown favorites, such as the Morgan, Appaloosa, Nakota, and Florida Cracker, are featured, along with imported breeds that have influenced native equine bloodlines, such as the Thoroughbred, Arabian, and Percheron. From the very large (the mighty Shire) to the very small (the tiny Miniature) and everything in between, this 96-breed survey covers North America’s remarkable diversity of horse breeds.

    The book provides concise information on all 141 species of amphibians and reptiles found in Arizona. Species accounts include high quality color photographs, compendious natural history information, detailed range maps, custom illustrations, line drawings, and call outs to key identification characteristics. This guide is a practical tool for both frequent wildlife watchers and the occasional visitor to the Arizona outdoors.Paperback.150 pages (fully illustrated).

    Black and white pictures throughout. Very thorough account of the mountains.

    This guide illustrates and describes more than 360 native and introduced species that grow and bloom on the Arboretum prairies and also briefly discusses or mentions many additional species, infraspecific taxa, and hybrids. Its intent is to increase awareness and respect for remaining small prairie remnants, motivate readers to work for prairie preservation and restoration, and encourage the planting of native species in yards and gardens.     Botanist and taxonomist Theodore S. Cochrane has written the text to engage a variety of readers: prairie enthusiasts, gardeners, amateur botanists, younger students learning about plants, and college students and professionals. Nomenclature follows in part the new APG classification system. Richly illustrated with detailed color photographs by Claudia S. Lipke and botanical illustrations and maps by Kandis Elliot, the guide provides a beautiful and informative sample of the flora of the Arboretum and of the southern Wisconsin prairie landscape. Many of the plants, of course, are also found throughout the upper Midwestern United States and in adjacent southern Canada.

    -Illustrated guide to fungi of the north woods including MN, WI and MI-Includes a key to the most common fungi groups-Guide is divided into 6 easy to remember categories-Size icons show the range of cap widths and stalk heights-Glossary of terms included-Fungus checklist to record finds

    Learn about 124 Indiana trees, organized in the book by leaf type and attachment. Fact-filled information contains the particulars that you want to know, while full-page photos provide the visual detail needed for accurate identification. Trees are fascinating and wonderful, and this is the perfect introduction to them.