Princeton University Press
WILDGuides of Britain & Europe
A highly illustrated and portable identification guide to the most common wild flowers and other plants
This innovative photographic guide covers the most common wild flowers and other plants found in Britain and Ireland, as defined by the very latest distribution maps. It is designed so that anyone faced with an unfamiliar wild plant can confidently put a name to the species or recognise that it is a less common plant needing further investigation. The identification process is based on standard botanical features that are straightforwardly described, clearly illustrated and supported by a simple visual key to families. This book can be your springboard into the wider world of botanical identification, wherever you are, and of plants both common and rare.
- Covers the plants most likely to be seen, including those in coastal areas
- Includes more than 3,800 colour photographs, with macro images of key features when needed
- Features a friendly, easy-to-use design and text written in plain English, with essential botanical terms described and illustrated
A carefully designed and lavishly illustrated photographic guide
This innovative and carefully designed photographic guide provides a concise introduction to the identification of the 246 birds most likely to be seen in Great Britain and Ireland. It is the perfect book for anyone wanting to put a name to the birds in their garden, local area or on visits farther afield. Packed with hundreds of stunning photos showing the birds in their many variations, and written and designed by a team of experienced birdwatchers, this is the ideal companion for anyone interested in learning more about the wild birds around us.
- Covers the 248 birds most likely to be seen, plus another 30 or so scarce but regular migrants
- Carefully designed to be user-friendly and accessible
- Lavishly illustrated with more than 1,600 stunning colour photographs
- Easy to use and written in plain English
Britain's Mammals is a comprehensive and beautifully designed photographic field guide to all the mammals recorded in the wild in Britain and Ireland in recent times—including marine mammals, bats and introduced species that have bred. The book features hundreds of stunning photographs and incorporates invaluable tips and suggestions to help you track down and identify even the most difficult species.
This easy-to-use book provides an introduction to the different types of mammal. Concise species accounts focus on identification and include up-to-date information on sounds, habitat, food, habits, breeding behaviour and population and status, as well as descriptions of key field signs—including tracks, droppings and nests—that give away the presence of mammals even when they are out of sight. In addition, guidance is provided on ways of studying and observing mammals—including small-mammal trapping, bat detecting and whale watching—as well as mammal conservation, legislation and further sources of useful information. Handy and informative, this guide is the ideal companion for anyone interested in watching mammals in Britain and Ireland.
- Comprehensive coverage of every mammal recorded in Britain and Ireland
- 500 superb colour photographs carefully selected to show key identification features
- Up-to-date distribution maps
- Detailed illustrations of tracks, dentition and other identification features
- Helpful tips for identifying tracks and other signs you may find in the field
- Latest information on status, population, distribution and conservation designations
- Advice on finding and watching mammals
This book has been produced with the aim of stimulating the general naturalist to take a closer look at the bumps and lumps that make up the fascinating world of plant galls. Induced by a variety of insects and other organisms and ranging from tiny pimples to bizarre and often very attractive and exquisitely sculptured growths, plant galls are mystery to many people, but they offer a fascinating field of study for both botanists and zoologists. Galls can be found on a very wide range of both woody and herbaceous plants, with over 50 different kinds occurring on Britain's oak trees alone, and there is still much to be learned about even the commonest examples.
- An introduction to the nature of plant galls and their formation
- Brief descriptions of some of the organisms that cause or induce galls
- Superb photographs of just over 200 of the commonest or most conspicuous of Britain's 1,000 or so plant galls, arranged according to their host plants to aid field identification
- Descriptions of these galls and the life histories of the organisms that cause them
This detailed guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Britain, Ireland, and the Channel Islands has been produced, with the collaboration of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, with the aim of inspiring an increased level of interest in these exciting and fascinating animals. It is designed to help anyone who finds a lizard, snake, turtle, tortoise, terrapin, frog, toad, or newt to identify it with confidence.
- Stunning photography
- An easy-to-use approach to identification
- Superbly illustrated introductory sections on the biology and conservation, taxonomy, lifecycle, and behavior of each species group
- Profiles of the 16 native reptiles and amphibians that breed in Britain, Ireland, and the Channel Islands and the 5 marine turtles that visit Britain's seas
- Profiles of 7 established nonnative species and a summary of 8 more with a history of release/escape
- Distribution maps based on the latest available information
- Hints and tips on where, when, and how to watch reptiles and amphibians
