Hoopoe – A blog by nhbs

Continuing our selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:

Peonies of the World, Volume 2: Polymorphism and Diversity

Hong De-Yuan

What?

Second in a three-volume work dedicated to the genus Paeonia.

Why?

The first volume began this series’ focus on a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus Paeonia. This second monograph continues the high standard with a look at the rich diversity found in the worldwide population.

Hong De-Yuan’s work exemplifies a conscientiousness in exploring and defining developments in taxonomy of a plant species, taking into account striking morphological variety, and the existence of herbarium specimens not found in nature.

The result of decades of extensive study in the field, work which was funded by the National Geographic Society, Peonies of the World, Volume 2: Polymorphism and Diversity, is illustrated with 356 colour photos of peonies in their natural context.

This is a very attractive quality monograph and an essential for botanists and horticulturists.

Who?

Hong De-Yuan is Professor of the State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. He is also Chair of the Life Science Division at the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Dean of the School of Life Science, Zhejiang University.

Continuing our selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:

Convergent Evolution: Limited Forms Most Beautiful

George McGhee Jr

What?

New volume in the MIT Press Vienna Series in Theoretical Biology.

Why?

Following the ethos of this series which looks in detail at the theoretical models behind the practical application of the biological sciences, this new volume looks at the phenomenon of convergent evolution through its manifestation in animal and plant biology, as well as in natural systems of all scales from the molecular world to large-scale ecosystems, and finally extending into the realm of mind where convergent characteristics are found in phenomena like tool use, and the evolution of various behaviours such as reproduction and herding.

This is a fascinating account of the state of current thinking on this subject, which brings into perspective the possibilities of life on our planet and Darwin’s vision of “endless forms most beautiful”.

Who?

George McGhee Jr is Professor of Paleobiology in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Rutgers University and a Member of the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research in Altenberg, Austria.

Continuing our selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:

The Natural History of the Proboscis Monkey

John CM Sha, Ikki Matsuda and Henry Bernard

What?

A new natural history of this unique species, endemic to Borneo.

Why?

This concise, informative and abundantly illustrated volume summarises the current state of knowledge about the natural history of the proboscis monkey. After introducing these charismatic creatures – pictures of which weave through the pages of this book, bringing the animals to life in all the colourful diversity of their behaviour – and their homeland of Sabah, Borneo, the chapters range through distribution, behaviour and social organisation, ecology, predation, and conservation issues.

The latter emphasis, on conservation, includes guidelines for ecotourists observing the proboscis monkeys at large, and suggestions of places to visit. The proboscis monkey is on the IUCN endangered list, and this volume should go some way towards raising awareness of their needs and nature, and their position in the lush forest ecosystem of Sabah.

Who?

John CM Sha, Ikki Matsuda and Henry Bernard are field researchers on proboscis monkeys in Sabah, East Malaysia.

Welcome to the NHBS Winter Gift Catalogue!

We’ve brought together all our favourite books from across our subject areas from the past twelve months, plus the best of the year’s DVD/Blu-ray documentaries (including the BBC’s Frozen Planet, due December), and some interesting gift ideas for photographers and young enthusiasts from our range of wildlife conservation equipment.

Save up to 20% on some of the top books of the year, and look out for a great saving of £54 on on the Bushnell XLT Trophy Cam Trail Camera, on page 6.

You can browse the catalogue below, or download here as a pdf. – it’s fully linked up so you can find out more about anything you are interested in by clicking on the images.
NHBS Winter Gift Catalogue 2011

Continuing our selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:

Vegetation Description and Data Analysis

Martin Kent

What?

Second edition of the key text for plant ecologists.

Why?

The new edition of this essential guide through the various practices and challenges in the field of vegetation description and multivariate analysis has been updated to reflect all new developments and technologies introduced since the previous edition was published in 1993.

Clearly, a significant proportion of that which has been introduced in the last two decades is related to developments in computer hardware and software, but this edition reflects also the international nature of the field, with the establishment of new journals giving it truly global scope and relevance.

New material includes: the nature of plant communities; induction and deduction in plant ecology; the potential relevance of Bayesian statistical analysis; recent advances in methods of ordination and classification (cluster analysis) and links to spacial analysis; a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the wide range of computer software now available; the increasing importance of R-related software.

Who?

Martin Kent is Emeritus Professor of Biogeography, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Plymouth.

Continuing our selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:

Cotingas and Manakins

Guy Kirwan and Graeme Green

What?

New Helm Identification Guide from two leading authorities on Neotropical birds.

Why?

The Cotingas and the Manakins are two of the most attractive of the Neoptropical bird groups. They are immensely popular with birders for their striking colours and unusual plumage, as well as being of great benefit to the sciences of ornithology and evolutionary biology, due to their characteristic natural history and behaviour.

This new volume from Helm includes all the latest research into identification and behaviour, along with the latest conclusions regarding the enticingly complex taxonomy of these birds – which is now considered to consist of species belonging to at least five different families.

Colour plates are by Eustace Barnes, a professional ornithologist and artist specialising in the Neotropics, and these are accompanied by detailed distribution maps, while hundreds of spectacular full-colour close-up photographs illustrate the vast majority of the species described.

Who?

Guy Kirwan has spent much of the last two decades in the Neotropics, from Mexico to Argentina and Chile, but especially Brazil, a country in which he has spent more than seven years in the field. He has written several books, including The Birds of Turkey and is a regular contributor to the academic literature. A research associate of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Guy was one of the founders of the Neotropical Bird Club, and has edited its journal “Cotinga” since 1996. Since 2004, he has also been the editor of the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. Guy now divides his time between his homes in Rio de Janeiro and Norwich. 

Graeme Green was born in Scotland, but grew up in Kent, one of the best counties in Britain for birdwatching. During the late 1970s Graeme was a regular on the UK ‘twitching’ scene and from there it was a small step to travel abroad in search of birds; he eventually chose the ‘bird continent’ as his primary love and has travelled widely in search of cotingas and manakins. He has served on the councils of the Oriental Bird Club and the Neotropical Bird Club, and formerly compiled the Taxonomic Round-up for Cotinga.

 Review published in the October 2011 Volume of the Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society

A Guide to the Hawkmoths of the Serra dos Orgaos, South-eastern Brazil
(Guia dos Sphingidae da Serra dos Orgaos, Sudeste do Brasil)

Alan Martin, Alexandre Soares and Jorge Bizarro

Published by REGUA

Hawkmoths have an enduring appeal for their attractiveness, size, sheer power and their breathtaking diversity, particularly in tropical regions. This attractive volume deals with the 110 Neotropical species found in a small reserve which is part of the Atalntic Rainforest in south-eastern Brazil, and an additional 4 species that have been recorded close by. The introductory chapters are written in both Portuguese and English, and cover a preface, checklist of hawkmoths, introduction to the region, hawkmoth taxonomy, life history and development. The main text of the book deals with the individual species and is written in English only. For each species there is a reference to the original description, synonyms, type locality, common name where applicable, size, notes on world-wide distribution and tips for identification. There then follows 37 pages of colour illustrations showing both upper and under-sides of set specimens, illustrating both sexes where they are known. There are four pages of habitat photographs, and a final 10 pages of colour photographs of living moths. The work concludes with a number of appendices covering notes on an historic collector, the reserve, some details of key species, and notes on the host-plants of Neotropical Sphingidae, distribution of species by Province, a phenology table and detailed bibliography.

One of the appendices is a brief biopic of Henry Richard Pearson (1911 – 2004), an Englishman who was one of the first entomologists to study Lepidoptera in the region. He amassed a collection of more than 12,000 specimens, which he donated to the Museo Nacional of Rio de Janeiro.

There are many books available on world hawkmoths, a good many of them substantial monographs that are very costly to purchase. By comparison, this is a modest volume but very well produced, well written and packed with information. The qualities of the colour reproduction are adequate for the set specimens, but very good for the habitat and live moth pictures – and the price is very attractive! The authors and staff of the Reserva Ecologica de Guapiacu are to be congratulated on producing an inexpensive and informative guide to these moths, which will be of great help to visitors to this region of Brazil, as well as those in other parts of Neotropical South America and those with a general interest in the world Sphingidae.

Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society