Natural History – serie

A luxurious book featuring 250 stunning photographs representing rare or exotic plants and flowersBotanica Magnifica features 250 stunning photographs representing - in the words of an ARTnews critic - rare or exotic plants and flowers “in large scale and exquisite detail, emerging from the shadows in a manner evocative of Old Master paintings."The original edition of Botanica Magnifica, consisting of five lavishly hand-bound volumes, was limited to just ten copies, the first of which was recently donated to the Smithsonian Institution. The extra-large “double-elephant” format of that edition was chosen in homage to the famous double-elephant folio of The Birds of America, and indeed, Botanica Magnifica is one of the few works of natural history ever to rival Audubon's magnum opus in its scope and artistry. In praise of the double-elephant folio of Botanica Magnifica, the Smithsonian's Chairman of Botany attested, “Everyone who has seen the photographs…has been tremendously impressed with the power, scale, and depth of the work."Now Singer's remarkable images are available to the public for the first time in this hardcover with slipcase, baby-elephant folio of Botanica Magnifica. This volume is organised into five alphabetically arranged sections, each introduced by a gatefold page that displays one extraordinary plant at a luxurious size. Each pictured plant is accompanied by a clear and accessible description of its botany, geography, folklore, history, and conservation.Botanica Magnifica is one of the most impressive volumes of natural history ever published.

The Cat; A Natural History takes an absorbing, in-depth look at the biology, behaviour and diversity of this popular animal.  ● Provides a comprehensive, richly illustrated introduction to the natural and cultural history of the cat, ● Offers an in-depth discussion of behaviour, including social organization, communication, courtship, and learning, ● Covers anatomy and physiology, including mobility, predation skills, and the genetics of coat colours, ● Features clear and accessible text plus infographics, diagrams, and 250 stunning colour photographs, ● Includes a beautiful photographic directory of more than forty breeds, Tracking the evolution of the cat from its first ancestor, the Pseudaelurus, to the emergence of the modern domestic cat, Sarah Brown looks at how different lineages of the species developed and how the domestic cat Felis came into contact with humans.Clear accounts of how the cat’s body functions help explain its extraordinary ability to balance, assess its hunting abilities, and understand its health and dietary needs. Details about the range of coat types and colours and their genetics give a comprehensive overview of the many breeds and nonbreeds we see today. Descriptions of the function of whiskers, the cat’s reliance on their sense of smell, and the sensory importance of the tongue all contribute to our understanding of the cat’s physiology.Cat communication by different means is covered, including vocalization and non-vocal communication. Whether living in the wild, on the streets or in a domestic setting, learning how to relate to other cats is a central element to cats’ socialization, and this is discussed as part of an in-depth look at cat behaviour.The cat’s notorious independent spirit and how it affects the cat-human relationship is assessed, and we take a look at attitudes to cats over the centuries and show how cats have featured in culture. The author offers advice on how to promote feline harmony in a multi-cat household, and how to enhance your pet’s physical and mental well-being.A directory of breeds features gorgeous photographs of more than 40 popular breeds, alongside details of their characteristics, genetic background and care requirements. Modern breeding and associated issues are raised, and a comprehensive glossary of medical terms covers health issues that owners need to know.Anyone with an interest in or love for cats, and all those who have owned a cat will find much to learn and enjoy in The Cat; A Natural History.

At any given time there are around one billion pigs in the world; that’s one for every seven of us. And where would we be without them? Prolific, ubiquitous, smart, adaptable, able to turn garbage into good-quality protein just by eating it, pigs have been our companions since neolithic days when they obligingly domesticated themselves, coming in out if the wild to truffle around our waste pits. It’s not all about the bacon: the resourceful pig, now reformatted in micro packages, has developed a whole new career as a portable pet. And thanks to the recent genome mapping we now know that pig physiology is remarkably similar to our own. The Pig: A Natural History covers evolution from prehistoric wild boar to placid porker; anatomy, biology and behaviour; the pig’s contribution to our lives; and the high profile of this remarkable beast in popular culture.