The Lost World of the Moa

The Lost World of the Moa

Author: T. H. Worthy

Publisher: Indiana University Press

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 1200

ISBN-13: 9780253340344

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

An investigation of the rich and unusual fauna of prehistoric New Zealand, telling of one of the most dramatic extinctions of modern times. The moa, a giant flightless bird, was among the animals lost, the authors summarize what is known about the bird, reconstructing its life and ecology.


Book Synopsis The Lost World of the Moa by : T. H. Worthy

Download or read book The Lost World of the Moa written by T. H. Worthy and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 1200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An investigation of the rich and unusual fauna of prehistoric New Zealand, telling of one of the most dramatic extinctions of modern times. The moa, a giant flightless bird, was among the animals lost, the authors summarize what is known about the bird, reconstructing its life and ecology.


Nature's Ghosts

Nature's Ghosts

Author: Mark V. Barrow

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2011-04-15

Total Pages: 511

ISBN-13: 0226038157

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The rapid growth of the American environmental movement in recent decades obscures the fact that long before the first Earth Day and the passage of the Endangered Species Act, naturalists and concerned citizens recognized—and worried about—the problem of human-caused extinction. As Mark V. Barrow reveals in Nature’s Ghosts, the threat of species loss has haunted Americans since the early days of the republic. From Thomas Jefferson’s day—when the fossil remains of such fantastic lost animals as the mastodon and the woolly mammoth were first reconstructed—through the pioneering conservation efforts of early naturalists like John James Audubon and John Muir, Barrow shows how Americans came to understand that it was not only possible for entire species to die out, but that humans themselves could be responsible for their extinction. With the destruction of the passenger pigeon and the precipitous decline of the bison, professional scientists and wildlife enthusiasts alike began to understand that even very common species were not safe from the juggernaut of modern, industrial society. That realization spawned public education and legislative campaigns that laid the foundation for the modern environmental movement and the preservation of such iconic creatures as the bald eagle, the California condor, and the whooping crane. A sweeping, beautifully illustrated historical narrative that unites the fascinating stories of endangered animals and the dedicated individuals who have studied and struggled to protect them, Nature’s Ghosts offers an unprecedented view of what we’ve lost—and a stark reminder of the hard work of preservation still ahead.


Book Synopsis Nature's Ghosts by : Mark V. Barrow

Download or read book Nature's Ghosts written by Mark V. Barrow and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2011-04-15 with total page 511 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The rapid growth of the American environmental movement in recent decades obscures the fact that long before the first Earth Day and the passage of the Endangered Species Act, naturalists and concerned citizens recognized—and worried about—the problem of human-caused extinction. As Mark V. Barrow reveals in Nature’s Ghosts, the threat of species loss has haunted Americans since the early days of the republic. From Thomas Jefferson’s day—when the fossil remains of such fantastic lost animals as the mastodon and the woolly mammoth were first reconstructed—through the pioneering conservation efforts of early naturalists like John James Audubon and John Muir, Barrow shows how Americans came to understand that it was not only possible for entire species to die out, but that humans themselves could be responsible for their extinction. With the destruction of the passenger pigeon and the precipitous decline of the bison, professional scientists and wildlife enthusiasts alike began to understand that even very common species were not safe from the juggernaut of modern, industrial society. That realization spawned public education and legislative campaigns that laid the foundation for the modern environmental movement and the preservation of such iconic creatures as the bald eagle, the California condor, and the whooping crane. A sweeping, beautifully illustrated historical narrative that unites the fascinating stories of endangered animals and the dedicated individuals who have studied and struggled to protect them, Nature’s Ghosts offers an unprecedented view of what we’ve lost—and a stark reminder of the hard work of preservation still ahead.


The Lost World

The Lost World

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Publisher:

Published: 2020-01-06

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 9781618958235

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Lost World is a science fiction novel by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1912, concerning an expedition to a plateau in the Amazon basin of South America where prehistoric animals still survive. It was originally published serially in the Strand Magazine and illustrated by New-Zealand-born artist Harry Rountree during the months of April-November 1912. The character of Professor Challenger was introduced in this book. The novel also describes a war between indigenous people and a vicious tribe of ape-like creatures. (wikipedia.org)


Book Synopsis The Lost World by : Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Download or read book The Lost World written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and published by . This book was released on 2020-01-06 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Lost World is a science fiction novel by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1912, concerning an expedition to a plateau in the Amazon basin of South America where prehistoric animals still survive. It was originally published serially in the Strand Magazine and illustrated by New-Zealand-born artist Harry Rountree during the months of April-November 1912. The character of Professor Challenger was introduced in this book. The novel also describes a war between indigenous people and a vicious tribe of ape-like creatures. (wikipedia.org)


Guns and Utu

Guns and Utu

Author: Matthew Wright

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2011-08-01

Total Pages: 313

ISBN-13: 1742287972

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

'So they went forth, and they were given over to death by the guns.' -Rangipito, of Ngati Rahiri In the two decades before the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand was ripped asunder by island-spanning waves of warfare, extreme violence and cannibalism. Great war parties surged the length of the land to avenge historic grievances, killing and burning as they went. Whole peoples were uprooted and found new homes. Despite the name given them by history, one thing we can be certain about is that these dramatic conflicts were not simply 'musket' wars. This was an age of courage, of heroism, of great character and of astonishing deeds. And they are not dead history. Twenty-first-century New Zealand has been profoundly shaped by them, not least in the location of most of the major cities. In Guns and Utu, historian Matthew Wright disputes the many mythologies of these wars, examining some of the whys and wherefores of this generation-long culture collision. 'A spectacular book.' -Don Rood, Radio New Zealand National


Book Synopsis Guns and Utu by : Matthew Wright

Download or read book Guns and Utu written by Matthew Wright and published by Penguin UK. This book was released on 2011-08-01 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'So they went forth, and they were given over to death by the guns.' -Rangipito, of Ngati Rahiri In the two decades before the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand was ripped asunder by island-spanning waves of warfare, extreme violence and cannibalism. Great war parties surged the length of the land to avenge historic grievances, killing and burning as they went. Whole peoples were uprooted and found new homes. Despite the name given them by history, one thing we can be certain about is that these dramatic conflicts were not simply 'musket' wars. This was an age of courage, of heroism, of great character and of astonishing deeds. And they are not dead history. Twenty-first-century New Zealand has been profoundly shaped by them, not least in the location of most of the major cities. In Guns and Utu, historian Matthew Wright disputes the many mythologies of these wars, examining some of the whys and wherefores of this generation-long culture collision. 'A spectacular book.' -Don Rood, Radio New Zealand National


Bigfoot to Mothman

Bigfoot to Mothman

Author: Margo DeMello

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2024-01-25

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 1440877262

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This one-volume encyclopedia introduces readers to the world's cryptids-those hidden or secret animals believed to exist at the margins of human society-including Bigfoot, Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Mothman. Comprehensive in its scope, this book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to know more about well-known creatures of myth and legend, such as the Chupacabra and the Jersey Devil, and discover lesser-known animals, such as the Bunyip of Australia and the Mamlambo of South Africa. Rather than purport to prove or deny the existence of these creatures, however, this volume classifies them within their respective cultural, historical, and social contexts, allowing readers to appreciate cryptids as cultural artifacts important to societies around the globe. Finally, this book goes beyond the study of the unknown to investigate who believes in cryptids, why they do, and why the study of cryptozoology is as much about understanding cryptids as it is about understanding ourselves.


Book Synopsis Bigfoot to Mothman by : Margo DeMello

Download or read book Bigfoot to Mothman written by Margo DeMello and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2024-01-25 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This one-volume encyclopedia introduces readers to the world's cryptids-those hidden or secret animals believed to exist at the margins of human society-including Bigfoot, Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Mothman. Comprehensive in its scope, this book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to know more about well-known creatures of myth and legend, such as the Chupacabra and the Jersey Devil, and discover lesser-known animals, such as the Bunyip of Australia and the Mamlambo of South Africa. Rather than purport to prove or deny the existence of these creatures, however, this volume classifies them within their respective cultural, historical, and social contexts, allowing readers to appreciate cryptids as cultural artifacts important to societies around the globe. Finally, this book goes beyond the study of the unknown to investigate who believes in cryptids, why they do, and why the study of cryptozoology is as much about understanding cryptids as it is about understanding ourselves.


A New Zealand Book of Beasts

A New Zealand Book of Beasts

Author: Annie Potts

Publisher: Auckland University Press

Published: 2014-03-01

Total Pages: 342

ISBN-13: 1869407725

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Touching on indigenous Maori relationships with the now-extinct, flightless moa; the attitudes of Pakeha, or European, settlers toward sheep; the iconography of whales and dolphins; the problems of pest-control; and the pleasures of pet-keeping, this modern-day bestiary is a fascinating study of human–animal relations. In the book’s four parts, the authors unravel the contradictory ways New Zealanders nurture and eradicate, glorify and demonize, cherish and devour, and describe and imagine animals. The study brings together insights from New Zealand’s arts and literature, popular culture, historiography, media, and everyday life to describe and analyze their interactions with nga kararehe and nga manu, the beasts and birds of the land. In doing so, it illuminates fundamental aspects of New Zealand society: how New Zealanders understand their own identities and those of others; how they regard, inhabit and make use of the natural world; and how they think about what they buy, eat, wear, watch, and read. Rich, multifaceted, and engaging, A New Zealand Book of Beasts satisfyingly explores how culture both shapes and is shaped by the “beasts” of Aotearoa.


Book Synopsis A New Zealand Book of Beasts by : Annie Potts

Download or read book A New Zealand Book of Beasts written by Annie Potts and published by Auckland University Press. This book was released on 2014-03-01 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Touching on indigenous Maori relationships with the now-extinct, flightless moa; the attitudes of Pakeha, or European, settlers toward sheep; the iconography of whales and dolphins; the problems of pest-control; and the pleasures of pet-keeping, this modern-day bestiary is a fascinating study of human–animal relations. In the book’s four parts, the authors unravel the contradictory ways New Zealanders nurture and eradicate, glorify and demonize, cherish and devour, and describe and imagine animals. The study brings together insights from New Zealand’s arts and literature, popular culture, historiography, media, and everyday life to describe and analyze their interactions with nga kararehe and nga manu, the beasts and birds of the land. In doing so, it illuminates fundamental aspects of New Zealand society: how New Zealanders understand their own identities and those of others; how they regard, inhabit and make use of the natural world; and how they think about what they buy, eat, wear, watch, and read. Rich, multifaceted, and engaging, A New Zealand Book of Beasts satisfyingly explores how culture both shapes and is shaped by the “beasts” of Aotearoa.


Extinct Animals

Extinct Animals

Author: Ross Piper

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2009-03-20

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 0313349886

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Everyone is familiar with the dodo and the wooly mammoth, but how many people have heard of the scimitar cat and the Falkland Island fox? Extinct Animals portrays over 60 remarkable animals that have been lost forever during the relatively recent geological past. Each entry provides a concise discussion of the history of the animal—how and where it lived, and how it became extinct—as well as the scientific discovery and analysis of the creature. In addition, this work examines what led to extinction—from the role of cyclical swings in the Earth's climate to the spread of humans and their activities. Many scientists believe that we are in the middle of a mass extinction right now, caused by the human undermining of the earth's complex systems that support life. Understanding what caused the extinction of animals in the past may help us understand and prevent the extinction of species in the future. Extinct Animals examines the biology and history of some of the most interesting creatures that have ever lived, including: The American Terror Bird, which probably became extinct over 1 million years ago, who were massive predators, some of which were almost 10 feet tall; the Rocky Mountain Locust, last seen in 1902, formed the most immense animal aggregations ever known, with swarms estimated to include over 10 trillion insects; the Giant Ground Sloth, which was as large as an elephant; and the Neandertals, the first Europeans, which co-existed with prehistoric Homo sapiens. Extinct Animals includes illustrations—many created for the work—that help the reader visualize the extinct creature, and each entry concludes with a list of resources for those who wish to do further research.


Book Synopsis Extinct Animals by : Ross Piper

Download or read book Extinct Animals written by Ross Piper and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2009-03-20 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everyone is familiar with the dodo and the wooly mammoth, but how many people have heard of the scimitar cat and the Falkland Island fox? Extinct Animals portrays over 60 remarkable animals that have been lost forever during the relatively recent geological past. Each entry provides a concise discussion of the history of the animal—how and where it lived, and how it became extinct—as well as the scientific discovery and analysis of the creature. In addition, this work examines what led to extinction—from the role of cyclical swings in the Earth's climate to the spread of humans and their activities. Many scientists believe that we are in the middle of a mass extinction right now, caused by the human undermining of the earth's complex systems that support life. Understanding what caused the extinction of animals in the past may help us understand and prevent the extinction of species in the future. Extinct Animals examines the biology and history of some of the most interesting creatures that have ever lived, including: The American Terror Bird, which probably became extinct over 1 million years ago, who were massive predators, some of which were almost 10 feet tall; the Rocky Mountain Locust, last seen in 1902, formed the most immense animal aggregations ever known, with swarms estimated to include over 10 trillion insects; the Giant Ground Sloth, which was as large as an elephant; and the Neandertals, the first Europeans, which co-existed with prehistoric Homo sapiens. Extinct Animals includes illustrations—many created for the work—that help the reader visualize the extinct creature, and each entry concludes with a list of resources for those who wish to do further research.


China Myth or History?

China Myth or History?

Author: J.G. Cheock

Publisher: J.G. Cheock

Published: 2017-10-02

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Viewing ancient China in world context, exploring the possibilities of international activities particularly in relation to the Philippines, during their classical dynasties based on the presence of abundant artifacts, ancient texts, and new archaeological discoveries.


Book Synopsis China Myth or History? by : J.G. Cheock

Download or read book China Myth or History? written by J.G. Cheock and published by J.G. Cheock. This book was released on 2017-10-02 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Viewing ancient China in world context, exploring the possibilities of international activities particularly in relation to the Philippines, during their classical dynasties based on the presence of abundant artifacts, ancient texts, and new archaeological discoveries.


Reassembling the Strange

Reassembling the Strange

Author: Thomas Anderson

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2018-10-15

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1498576060

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book examines how Westerners understood and processed Madagascar and its environment during the nineteenth century. Madagascar’s unique ecosystem crafted its reputation as a strange place full of unusual species. Westerners, however, often minimized Madagascar’s peculiar features to stress the commonality of its fauna and flora with the world. The attempt to understand the island through science led to a domestication of its environment that created the image of a tame and known world capable of being controlled and used by Western powers. At the heart of the exploration of Madagascar and its transformation in Western eyes from a strange world to a cash crop colony were missionaries and naturalists who relied upon global experiences to master the island by normalizing the peculiar qualities of Madagascar’s environment. This book reveals how the environment played a dominant role in understanding the island and its people, and how current environmental debates have evolved from earlier policies and discussions about the environment.


Book Synopsis Reassembling the Strange by : Thomas Anderson

Download or read book Reassembling the Strange written by Thomas Anderson and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2018-10-15 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines how Westerners understood and processed Madagascar and its environment during the nineteenth century. Madagascar’s unique ecosystem crafted its reputation as a strange place full of unusual species. Westerners, however, often minimized Madagascar’s peculiar features to stress the commonality of its fauna and flora with the world. The attempt to understand the island through science led to a domestication of its environment that created the image of a tame and known world capable of being controlled and used by Western powers. At the heart of the exploration of Madagascar and its transformation in Western eyes from a strange world to a cash crop colony were missionaries and naturalists who relied upon global experiences to master the island by normalizing the peculiar qualities of Madagascar’s environment. This book reveals how the environment played a dominant role in understanding the island and its people, and how current environmental debates have evolved from earlier policies and discussions about the environment.


Palaeobiology of Giant Flightless Birds

Palaeobiology of Giant Flightless Birds

Author: Delphine Angst

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2017-11-16

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 0081011431

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The fossil record of giant flightless birds extends back to the Late Cretaceous, more than 70 million years ago, but our understanding of these extinct birds is still incomplete. This is partly because the number of specimens available is sometimes limited, but also because widely different approaches have been used to study them, with sometimes contradictory results. This book summarizes the current knowledge of the paleobiology of seven groups of giant flightless birds: Dinornithiformes, Aepyornithiformes, Dromornithidae, Phorusrhacidae, Brontornithidae, Gastornithidae and Gargantuavis. The first chapter presents the global diversity of these birds and reviews the tools and methods used to study their paleobiology. Chapters 2 to 8 are each dedicated to one of the seven groups of extinct birds. Finally, a conclusion offers a global synthesis of the information presented in the book in an attempt to define a common evolutionary model. Focuses on the giant flightless birds that evolved independently in different parts of the world since the Cretaceous period Covers a number of different families with different evolutionary histories, providing a source of interesting comparisons Provides emphasis on the palaeobiology of these birds, including their evolution, adaptations, mode of life, ecology and extinction


Book Synopsis Palaeobiology of Giant Flightless Birds by : Delphine Angst

Download or read book Palaeobiology of Giant Flightless Birds written by Delphine Angst and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2017-11-16 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fossil record of giant flightless birds extends back to the Late Cretaceous, more than 70 million years ago, but our understanding of these extinct birds is still incomplete. This is partly because the number of specimens available is sometimes limited, but also because widely different approaches have been used to study them, with sometimes contradictory results. This book summarizes the current knowledge of the paleobiology of seven groups of giant flightless birds: Dinornithiformes, Aepyornithiformes, Dromornithidae, Phorusrhacidae, Brontornithidae, Gastornithidae and Gargantuavis. The first chapter presents the global diversity of these birds and reviews the tools and methods used to study their paleobiology. Chapters 2 to 8 are each dedicated to one of the seven groups of extinct birds. Finally, a conclusion offers a global synthesis of the information presented in the book in an attempt to define a common evolutionary model. Focuses on the giant flightless birds that evolved independently in different parts of the world since the Cretaceous period Covers a number of different families with different evolutionary histories, providing a source of interesting comparisons Provides emphasis on the palaeobiology of these birds, including their evolution, adaptations, mode of life, ecology and extinction