A narrative account of the life of the famed explorer and taxidermist assesses his influence on American views about natural-world conservation, providing coverage of such topics as his dangerous pursuits of wildlife for his dioramas and his relationships with such figures as Theodore Roosevelt and P. T. Barnum.

A tour of the surprising world of the endangered Asian arowana, otherwise known as the "dragon fish," describes the violence, expense, cultural beliefs and sophisticated smuggling operations surrounding its illegal possession, tracing the author's years-long quest in search of surviving populations.

A book that looks at everything from elephant seals to blanket octopuses to giant seadevils sheds light on what it means to be male or female in the animal kingdom.

A musician and naturalist describes how the noise of humans is drowning out the sounds of nature and paints a picture of the relationship and connection between natural sounds and music that is becoming increasingly difficult to hear.

Alexandra Horowitz, the author of the lively, highly informative New York Times bestselling blockbusterInside of a Dog, explains how dogs perceive the world through their most spectacular organ—the nose—and how we humans can put our under-used sense of smell to work in surprising ways. What the dog sees and knows comes mostly through his nose, and the information that every dog takes in about the world just based on smell is unthinkably rich. To a dog, there is no such thing as “fresh air.

Describes how the loyal and affectionate dog breed that once earned presidential recognition for their roles on the battlefields of Gettysburg and the Marne and appeared in films and TV, became demonized and stigmatized through urban dog-fighting rings.

"From the editor of the nation's premier birding magazine, a no-nonsense, no-fluff quick guide to the birds you see every day. Of all the classic American pastimes, perhaps none is as widely accessible as watching birds. Our unusually vast, diverse environmental landscape supports fascinating species and variations exclusive to each region of the country. But while birders often spend their efforts in search of the rarest creatures, some of the most beautiful and intriguing birds are the ones that frequent our backyards (or nearby) daily. For that reason, where other, larger volumes focus on bird types that the casual observer is never likely to encounter, Western Birds concisely celebrates those species living under our very noses. Written by Bill Thompson III, the editor and co-publisher of Bird Watcher's Digest, this portable 5"x8" book contains the same variety of entertaining and informative entries that make Bird Watcher's Digest the nation's most popular birding magazine. Inside, you'll find profiles of the 55 most common birds in the West, complete with large color photos, gender-specific physical descriptions, nesting and feeding information, bird call particulars, and interesting stories about each species. Thompson also introduces the reader to the basics of bird watching: essential gear, bird-friendly food and plantings, housing tips, and observational techniques. This guide covers Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and western Texas. Look for our other backyard bird guides covering the Mid-Atlantic, South, Northeast, and Midwest regions of the United States"--

A best seller for more than a dozen years, and now: the completely revised and updated second edition of the most comprehensive, widely acclaimed bird guide available. Among the revisions that have been made for this second edition: All illustrations are approximately 15%-20% larger than they appeared in the first edition. Every image from the first edition has been re-digitized from the original art. 600 new paintings: including illustrations of 85 rare species and additional aspects of the species included in the original edition. Two-thirds (4,356) of all original art has been revised, providing improved detail, and reflecting new physical and behavioral information. Expanded text includes conservation status, habitat, and tips on finding species in the field. More than 600 updated new maps. Elegant overall new design.

The first in a new annual anthology of the finest science writing to be published in 1999 features such works as Richard Preston's "The Demon in the Freezer," John McPhee's "Farewell to the Nineteenth Century," "Brilliant Light" by Oliver Sacks, and other essays by Wendell Berry, Anne Fadiman, David Guterson, Peter Matthiessen, and other notable authors. Simultaneous. 30,000 first printing.

Presents the best-selling tale of a newly hatched barn owl whose youth and injury prevented his release into the wild, describing the long-lasting friendship through which the owl and author developed a unique communication ability, in an account that also offers insight into owl folklore, abilities, and brain structure. Reprint.