Best of
Natural-History

1977

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady


Edith Holden - 1977
    We are very pleased to be the first U.S. publisher to offer Ediths timeless watercolors.

Coming Into the Country


John McPhee - 1977
    Written with a vividness and clarity which shifts scenes frequently, and yet manages to tie the work into a rewarding whole, McPhee segues from the wilderness to life in urban Alaska to the remote bush country.

Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History


Stephen Jay Gould - 1977
    His genius as an essayist lies in his unmatched ability to use his knowledge of the world, including popular culture, to illuminate the realm of science.Ever Since Darwin, Stephen Jay Gould's first book, has sold more than a quarter of a million copies. Like all succeeding collections by this unique writer, it brings the art of the scientific essay to unparalleled heights.

Northwest Trees: Identifying and Understanding the Region's Native Trees


Stephen F. Arno - 1977
     Completely updated and expanded-covers more geography and 50 percent more tree species than the previous edition Provides a new, easy-to-use illustrated identification key based on the most reliable and non-technical features of each species Features the latest knowledge on the ecology and human history associated with all Northwestern trees. Over 250 exceptionally accurate drawings and historical photos bring these ancient giants to life.

Wild Flowers of Britain: Over a Thousand Species by Photographic Identification


Roger Phillips - 1977
    A unique encyclopedia of the flowers of the countryside.Over 1,000 wild flowers are illustrated in full colour photographs, accompanied by comprehensive descriptions and set out in the sequence of the seasons.Each photograph is dated and described to make this book an original departure in flower identification.

Paddy


R.D. Lawrence - 1977
    Parenting the beaver kit for a summer, Lawrence observed animal nature firsthand, learning fascinating answers to many questions about beavers and their behavior. From the real purpose of their tail slapping and scent mounds to the truth about beaver family life, this is an engaging combination of natural history and the bonds of animal companionship. Line drawings.

Ontogeny and Phylogeny


Stephen Jay Gould - 1977
    Gould explores recapitulation as an idea that intrigued politicians and theologians as well as scientists. He shows that Haeckel's hypothesis--that human fetuses with gill slits are, literally, tiny fish, exact replicas of their water-breathing ancestors--had an influence that extended beyond biology into education, criminology, psychoanalysis (Freud and Jung were devout recapitulationists), and racism. The theory of recapitulation, Gould argues, finally collapsed not from the weight of contrary data, but because the rise of Mendelian genetics rendered it untenable.Turning to modern concepts, Gould demonstrates that, even though the whole subject of parallels between ontogeny and phylogeny fell into disrepute, it is still one of the great themes of evolutionary biology. Heterochrony--changes in developmental timing, producing parallels between ontogeny and phylogeny--is shown to be crucial to an understanding of gene regulation, the key to any rapprochement between molecular and evolutionary biology. Gould argues that the primary evolutionary value of heterochrony may lie in immediate ecological advantages for slow or rapid maturation, rather than in long-term changes of form, as all previous theories proclaimed.Neoteny--the opposite of recapitulation--is shown to be the most important determinant of human evolution. We have evolved by retaining the juvenile characters of our ancestors and have achieved both behavioral flexibility and our characteristic morphology thereby (large brains by prolonged retention of rapid fetal growth rates, for example).Gould concludes that "there may be nothing new under the sun, but permutation of the old within complex systems can do wonders. As biologists, we deal directly with the kind of material complexity that confers an unbounded potential upon simple, continuous changes in underlying processes. This is the chief joy of our science."

Animal Tracks and Signs


Preben Bang - 1977
    Totally unique in its accessible, down-to-earth approach and detailed coverage of more than 200 creatures, it is the only book in print that enables readers to determine which animals have passed through the countryside by examining the traces they have left behind, opening up a captivating new world that might otherwise remain unseen.Whether following footprints in mud, sand, or snow, feeding marks on cones, nuts, trees, and animal remains; homes and hiding places above and below ground; or feathers, pellets, and droppings, readers are taught how to identify the bird or mammal that has been before them, aided by hundreds of beautiful, informative colour photographs, line drawings, and diagrams, and clear descriptions of the anatomy, behavior, movements patterns, and habitat of different species.Quick-reference place sections compare actual-size prints, pellets, and droppings for fast identification on the move, covering such diverse wildlife as the shrew, hedgehog, fox, elk, and bear; the sparrow, kestrel, and eagle owl.The new reissued edition includes a new Foreword by Ray Mears, who has found this book to be an invaluable point of reference throughout his career, and recommends it to students on his Bushcraft and Survival courses.

The Complete Amateur Naturalist


Michael Chinery - 1977
    Explore the wild life of town and country in fascinating projects and experiments.

Atlas Of The Oceans


Rand McNally & Company - 1977
    It features hundreds of photographs, maps and diagrams, and a text that is both comprehensive and authoritative. The Atlas of the Oceans is divided into six sections: 'The Oceans,' "Ocean Exploration,' 'Ocean Life,' 'Ocean Resources,' 'Ocean Atlas,' and 'Encyclopedia of Marine Life.'

Beaversprite: My Years Building an Animal Sanctuary


Dorothy Richards - 1977
    of Environmental Protection. Dorothy and her husband Al lived on a land that was lush with creeks in the headlands of the Hudson River, in the foothills of the Adirondacks. The land was wooded with poplars and sugar maples. It was a perfect place for beavers to live and yet there were none in the entire state of New York - they had all been killed by trappers for that beautiful fur. The Richards began with just that one pair - they simply protected them and let them live. They lived naturally and produced liter after litter of kits. Dorothy came to know them, love them, and to realize that she would dedicate her life to saving them.