Search Results: Nature & Natural History from Ariadne Books

London: Collins, 2015. First edition, 2015. Hardback. xiii, 626pp. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. In the British Isles alien plants are common, conspicuous, pestiferous, beautiful, edible - and can be useful and harmful. Over the last fifty years, the study of alien plants has progressed from an eccentric hobby to the full-blown sciences of invasion ecology and alien genetics. Alien species must now be accepted as an integral part of mainstream botany. This work offers a comprehensive overview of the many plants that have become an integral part of the British wild flora and a unique insight into why alien plants are so important. Front cover design by Robert Gillmor. Book as new and unread. Dust jacket fine and unclipped. A heavy book but no additional shipping costs to UK post codes.

Sudbury: Neville Spearman Ltd, 1982. First edition, 1982. xvii, 256pp. Hardback. Green cloth boards with gilt to spine. Dust jacket. This book is a fascinating mixture of autobiography and training manual by someone who has devoted his life to Hunting Birds. Lorant de Bastyai interest in hunting birds was first aroused by the visit of Indian falconers to his native Hungary. Whilst living in England he did much to increase public awareness and understanding of birds of prey. The book contains chapters on the history of hawking in Britain and Hungary; on shortwing and broadwing hawks, their introduction, training care and health. Illustrated with a fine selection of black & white half tones and line drawings, many showing birds which the author has owned and flown over the years. Book in very good condition. Minor wear only but with a small nick to the lower edge of the rear board. very clean internally. Dust jacket very good. Unclipped. A little minor edge wear. Small chip to lower edge of rear… Read More

London: Harper Collins, 2000. First edition 2000. Hardback. 270pp. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. Eminent herpetologists Trevor Beebee and Richard Griffiths have brought together a wealth of new and fascinating information on the British amphibians and reptiles. The book begins by looking at biogeography and how factors such as geological history, latitude and climate affect ecology, life histories and behaviour. the authors go on to discuss historical interest in amphibians and reptiles, from how they have featured in witchcraft and legends to modern perspectives. There is a chapter covering the basic biology of the amphibians and reptiles before each of the main groups - newts, frogs and toads, lizards, snakes and chelonians - are examined in detail. A comprehensive account for each species covers behaviour, life history, reproduction and distribution, as well as ecology and conservation status. There is also a chapter with important information on the burgeoning number of introduced species… Read More

London: Harper Collins, 2000. First edition 2000. Hardback. 270pp. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. Eminent herpetologists Trevor Beebee and Richard Griffiths have brought together a wealth of new and fascinating information on the British amphibians and reptiles. The book begins by looking at biogeography and how factors such as geological history, latitude and climate affect ecology, life histories and behaviour. the authors go on to discuss historical interest in amphibians and reptiles, from how they have featured in witchcraft and legends to modern perspectives. There is a chapter covering the basic biology of the amphibians and reptiles before each of the main groups - newts, frogs and toads, lizards, snakes and chelonians - are examined in detail. A comprehensive account for each species covers behaviour, life history, reproduction and distribution, as well as ecology and conservation status. There is also a chapter with important information on the burgeoning number of introduced species… Read More

London: T & A D Poyser, 1992. First edition, 1992. Hardback. xviii, 249pp. Dust jacket. Breeding along the northern Pacific coast from British Columbia to Japan, this little know bird dwelt in relative obscurity until it became the focus of a conservation debate which has resulted in a new National Park in the Queen Charlotte Islands where half the world's population breeds. It made the headlines again when a lost, lone bird sudenly appeared at Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel, England, in May 1990 and again in April 1991. The Ancient Murrelet and its three congeners are unique amongst seabirds in that their young are entirely precocial, leaving the nest as soon as they hatch to grow up at sea. The illustrations of Ian Jones, who also assisted with the research, capture the bird and its environment beautiffully. Book in near fine condition and with an unread feel. Dust jacket ear fine and unclipped. Very minor edge wear only.

London: Harper Collins, 1952. First edition 1952. Hardback. xv, 268pp plus 4 pages of publisher's ads at end. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. J. R. Harris is both an angler and a scientific naturalist. Anglers, of all human groups devoted to a hobby or sport, are perhaps the most strongly obsessed with their occupation and with all that belongs to it. The fact that sporting fish feed primarily on insects and can be caught by devices which simulate these insects, has been the basis for a scientific literature and an equally astonishing display of invention in fly-tying. While anglers have always been interested in the scientific basis of simulation of the insects as lures for fish, there has been a paucity of books on angling that has dealt satisfactorily with the angler's entomology in all its aspects. This book offers fine illustrations - both in colour by T. O. Routledge, and in black & white - and a solid text, by which all stages of all the important angler's flies can be… Read More

London: Victor Gollancz, 1968. First English translation. Hardback. Good/Good. Victor Gollancz, London, 1968. First published in French by Librairie Plon, Paris, 1963. Book condition: good. Slight wear to boards. Internally very clean. Dust jacket: good. Price clipped. Some edge wear and chipping to corners - especially to head & tail of spine. This book explores the social relationships that exist in the animal and the insect worlds. It is not only a scientific study but also a joy to read. Numerous line drawings and photographs.

London: Collins, 1977. First edition 1977 (Primary binding variant). Hardback. 223pp. Green cloth boards. Dust jacket with publisher's Duraseal protector. Ants have always exercised a fascination that extends beyond the world of biology. They have attracted the attention of poets and dramatists and political theorists who have envied their apparent industry and complex communal organisation. The social life of ants is indeed extraordinary. It forms the basis of their entire lives; an ant on its own cannot survive. Ants are the only known group of insects in which there are no solitary species. In this book, Dr Brian, a leading authority on ants, brings together the results of research into the zoology, ecology and social life of the group. The author begins by discussing the relationships of ants to other insects, their anatomy and physiology, and then turns to the different species of British ant, feeding, aphid 'farming', and the specialised role of the workers in acting as travelling… Read More

London: Collins, 1977. First edition 1977 (Primary binding variant). Bookplate of Eric Hosking to front pastedown. Hardback. 223pp. Green cloth boards. Dust jacket with publisher's Duraseal protector. Ants have always exercised a fascination that extends beyond the world of biology. They have attracted the attention of poets and dramatists and political theorists who have envied their apparent industry and complex communal organisation. The social life of ants is indeed extraordinary. It forms the basis of their entire lives; an ant on its own cannot survive. Ants are the only known group of insects in which there are no solitary species. In this book, Dr Brian, a leading authority on ants, brings together the results of research into the zoology, ecology and social life of the group. The author begins by discussing the relationships of ants to other insects, their anatomy and physiology, and then turns to the different species of British ant, feeding, aphid 'farming', and the specialised… Read More

London: Collins, 1977. First edition 1977 (Primary binding variant). Hardback. 223pp. Green cloth boards. Dust jacket with publisher's Duraseal protection. Ants have always exercised a fascination that extends beyond the world of biology. They have attracted the attention of poets and dramatists and political theorists who have envied their apparent industry and complex communal organisation. The social life of ants is indeed extraordinary. It forms the basis of their entire lives; an ant on its own cannot survive. Ants are the only known group of insects in which there are no solitary species. In this book, Dr Brian, a leading authority on ants, brings together the results of research into the zoology, ecology and social life of the group. The author begins by discussing the relationships of ants to other insects, their anatomy and physiology, and then turns to the different species of British ant, feeding, aphid 'farming', and the specialised role of the workers in acting as travelling… Read More

London: Neville Spearman Ltd, 1971. First published in 1892. This edition first published in 1971. Hardback. 163pp plus unpaginated index at rear. Black cloth boards with gilt to spine. Dust jacket. This work originally appeared as a Badminton Library edition and copies are now extremely scarce. As well as being an immensely practical treatise, it is also profusely illustrated by two fine artists, John Charlton and R. H. Moore, who were both masters of their art and had an enormous understanding of falconry. An essential read for anyone interested in falconry. Black & white illustrations. Book condition very good. Minor wear and a little light spotting to text block edges. Very clean internally. The book has a faint musty odour but no sign of any damp damage. Dust jacket good. Unclipped. Small closed tear to upper edge of rear and just a little edge wear. Generally a little rubbed and soiled. Spine discoloured and front slightly faded. Jacket in a protective sleeve.

London: Century Hutchinson, 1989. First edition. Hardback. Good/Fair. The book is in good condition with just a teeny bit of shelf wear to the head and tail of the spine. The dust jacket, which is price clipped, is in fair conditon. It is clean and entire but there is a little creasing to the bottom fore edge and light shelf wear to the head and tail of the spine. Also a little colour fade to the spine. In the hands of wildlife photographer Stephen Dalton, the camera is a magical tool for exploring the natural world. Although the photographs speak for themselves, they also create an appetite to know more about this complex world, and Jill Bailey's informed and sympathetic text supplies background comments on food chains and life cycles of various plants and animals. In today's busy world there is all too little time to stand and stare but this enchanting book does just that.

Tring: British Trust for Ornithology/Irish Wild Bird Conservancy, 1976. First edition, 1976. Hardback. 477pp. Includes the printed wallet with twelve transparent map overlays. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. This book shows the distributions of the breeding birds of Britain and Ireland. Distribution maps are given for all but 11 of the 229 bird species listed as breeding in Britain and Ireland. the maps are based on surveys carried out during 1968 - 1972 by over 10,000 birdwatchers. Every part of Britain and Ireland was visited during the five years and over 285,000 records are summarised visually by the maps. The texts describe the birds' habitats, the problems involved in locating each species or in proving breeding, and the historical background to range and numerical changes. Book in very good condition. Very slight spotting to text block edges and some faint toning to page edges. Dust jacket very good. Unclipped. Spine and front a little discoloured and some very light soiling. A very… Read More

Calton: T & A D Poyser, 1986. First edition, 1986. Hardback. 448pp. Dust jacket. This companion volume to 'The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland' is derived from surveys during the three winters, 1981/82, 1982/83 and 1983/84. The surveys were organised by the BTO and the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, as were the earlier breeding surveys. There are other than seasonal differences between the breeding birds and wintering birds surveys. The breeding birds surveys were selective and concerned only with a species' presence or absence within a 10km square. The winter surveys set out to include all species seen throughout the three winters and to assess their abundance for each square. Furthermore, unlike breeding birds, which are largely confined to breeding territories, wintering birds may move considerable distances in response to weather, supply of food, or other factors. This book maps 200 species, 192 of which have full-page two-colour maps faced by a page of text. The… Read More

London: Collins, 2010. First edition, 2010. Hardback. xi, 386pp. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. The badger occupies a unique place in the British consciousness. Although many people have never seen one in the wild, they are one of our best-loved mammals. In this study, Professor Timothy Roper explores every aspect of the biology and behaviour of these fascinating animals. He reveals the complexities of a lifestyle that allows badgers to build communities in an astonishing variety of habitats. He also reveals the facts behind the controversy surrounding the badger's role in transmitting TB to cattle, shedding light on an issue that has resulted in one of the most extensive wildlife research programmes ever carried out. Front cover design by Robert Gillmor. Book as new and unread. Dust jacket fine and unclipped.

London: Collins, 1962. First published in 1948, this is a second edition from 1962. Hardback. xv, 158pp. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. This monograph is still a notable contribution to the biology of a noble animal. Illustrated with one colour photograph, 29 black & white photographs and 12 maps and drawings. Book condition: very good. Just a little light shelf wear. Slight spotting and dust soiling to text block edges. Previous owner's name stamped to front free endpaper along with a small, neat signature. Half title page also stamped with same owner's name. Dust jacket condition: very good and unclipped. Some slight chipping at head & tail of spine and to corners. Small closed tear (approx 12mm) at bottom edge of back. A little light staining here and there.

London: Collins, 1948. Collins London, 1948. First edition with dust jacket in a protective sleeve. Hardback. xv, 158pp. The first of the New Naturalist Monographs. Studies of the badger have been made by prominent amateur mammalogists and have been published in books and papers, but they have not probed all the mysteries of badger life and have, in many ways, simply shown what a tremendous amount of work there was to be done. Ernest Neal has removed a vast amount of the debris concealing the badger's life. He has overcome, in many interesting ways, the problems of observing a nocturnal and secretive creature. He has made himself a patient watchman, a cunning photographer, an ingenious detective and a careful judge. This Monograph is till a notable contribution to the biology of a noble animal. Illustrated with one colour photograph, 29 black & white photographs and 12 maps and drawings. Jacket design by Clifford and Rosemary Ellis. Book in very good condition. Some dust soiling and spotting… Read More

London: Collins, 1948. First edition. Hardback. Very Good/Fair. Collins London, 1948. First edition with dust jacket. Hardback. xv, 158pp. The first of the New Naturalist Monographs. Studies of the badger have been made by prominent amateur mammalogists and have been published in books and papers, but they have not probed all the mysteries of badger life and have, in many ways, simply shown what a tremendous amount of work there was to be done. Ernest Neal has removed a vast amount of the debris concealing the badger's life. He has overcome, in many interesting ways, the problems of observing a nocturnal and secretive creature. He has made himself a patient watchman, a cunning photographer, an ingenious detective and a careful judge. This Monograph is till a notable contribution to the biology of a noble animal. Illustrated with one colour photograph, 29 black & white photographs and 12 maps and drawings. Jacket design by Clifford and Rosemary Ellis. Book condition: very good. A little… Read More

London: The Chiswick Press, 1960. Hardback. [i - iv], v - xviii, 1 - 315pp. Green cloth binding with gilt to upper board and spine. No jacket. A very useful bibliographical reference work. Book in very good condition. Slight fade to spine and very slight toning to endpapers. A little spotting to text block edges - mostly to top edge. Internally very clean and free of marks/spotting.

London: Andrew Melrose, 1911. Fifth impression 1920. Hardback. Good/No dust jacket.. William Smith. Andrew Melrose, London, 1911. Fifth impression 1920. Book condition: good. A little wear to boards and some light tanning to paper. Previous owner's name to front pastedown. No jacket. Some lovely colour illustrations by William Smith and a very engaging text.