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RSPB Spotlight Swifts and Swallows
by Mike UnwinPeople all over Britain and Europe have long welcomed the arrival of swifts and swallows as a promise of summer being just around the corner. And with their similar long wings and dashing flight, it is perhaps understandable that we often confuse the two birds. After all, they have much in common: both feed on flying insects, both breed around buildings, and both are long-distance migrants that spend winter in Africa. But appearances can be deceptive. Swifts and swallows are completely unrelated birds that have adapted through evolution to survive in similar ways. In Spotlight: Swifts and Swallows, Mike Unwin reveals their fascinating lifestyles, explains how and why they have acquired their similarities, and ways in which we can help protect them. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photography and informative expert text.
RSPB Spotlight Swifts and Swallows
by Mike UnwinPeople all over Britain and Europe have long welcomed the arrival of swifts and swallows as a promise of summer being just around the corner. And with their similar long wings and dashing flight, it is perhaps understandable that we often confuse the two birds. After all, they have much in common: both feed on flying insects, both breed around buildings, and both are long-distance migrants that spend winter in Africa. But appearances can be deceptive. Swifts and swallows are completely unrelated birds that have adapted through evolution to survive in similar ways. In Spotlight: Swifts and Swallows, Mike Unwin reveals their fascinating lifestyles, explains how and why they have acquired their similarities, and ways in which we can help protect them. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photography and informative expert text.
RSPB Spotlight Woodpeckers
by Gerard GormanWoodpeckers are fascinating birds, filling our forests with their unmistakable drumming, and capturing our imaginations with their incredible ability to drill holes in trees and their bright, colourful plumage. Three species of woodpecker are resident in the UK: the Green Woodpecker, often seen on lawns and in fields; the Great Spotted Woodpecker, a frequent visitor at garden bird-feeders; and the tiny Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, sadly now in decline. The Wryneck – which twists its neck 'like a snake' when threatened – also passes through the UK on its yearly migration and has captivated people throughout the ages. Gerard Gorman provides a close-up look at the lives of these birds, from their anatomy, diet and nesting habits to their iconic drumming behaviour. He also explores the relationship that humans have enjoyed with woodpeckers for centuries, in folklore, myth and conservation, and gives tips on how to observe these wonderful birds in the wild. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photographs and informative expert text.
RSPB Spotlight Woodpeckers
by Gerard GormanWoodpeckers are fascinating birds, filling our forests with their unmistakable drumming, and capturing our imaginations with their incredible ability to drill holes in trees and their bright, colourful plumage. Three species of woodpecker are resident in the UK: the Green Woodpecker, often seen on lawns and in fields; the Great Spotted Woodpecker, a frequent visitor at garden bird-feeders; and the tiny Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, sadly now in decline. The Wryneck – which twists its neck 'like a snake' when threatened – also passes through the UK on its yearly migration and has captivated people throughout the ages. Gerard Gorman provides a close-up look at the lives of these birds, from their anatomy, diet and nesting habits to their iconic drumming behaviour. He also explores the relationship that humans have enjoyed with woodpeckers for centuries, in folklore, myth and conservation, and gives tips on how to observe these wonderful birds in the wild. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photographs and informative expert text.
Rubbish Pet Portraits
by Hercule Van WolfwinkleA hilarious collection of Hercule Van Wolfwinkle's 'extremely realistic' pet portraits. Warning: may not be suitable for anyone who actually likes animals or has the ability to see.
Rubbish Town Hero
by Nicola DaviesChipo and his little sister Gentle live on Papa Fudu's dumpsite in Rubbish Town, searching for valuable things amongst the rubbish to try to stay alive. Life isn't easy - luckily, Chipo has spirit, courage and lots of imagination! And now, he has a plan...But when Chipo and Gentle are caught with something precious that Papa Fudu wants for himself, they have to think quick, move fast. Suddenly they're on the run...Along with their friend Dede and their loyal dog, Mouse, Chipo and Gentle set off on a dangerous and exciting journey to find a safe place to call home - meeting a cast of extraordinary characters along the way.
Ruby: The Autobiography
by Ruby WalshAutobiography of champion jockey and much-loved sports personality Ruby Walsh.A much-loved sports personality throughout Ireland and Great Britain, Ruby has had a career of outstanding success, which includes having won all four of the home Grand Nationals. This new edition brings his story right up-to-date to include all of the races over the busy Christmas period as well as last year's astonishing triumph against the odds. With many doubting that he could be race-fit following a broken leg in November 2010, Ruby competed at Cheltenham Festival in March 2011 and won five races, finishing as the leading jockey.Ruby also talks openly about the three key working relationships in his life - with Paul Nicholls, Willie Mullins and his father, the legendary Ted Walsh - as well as laying bare the relationship that exists between him and jockey Tony McCoy - both great friends and professional rivals. With his intimate knowledge of the two greatest horses of our time, he also provides valuable insight into what it is like to ride Kauto Star and Denman. Ruby charts the rise of an immensely talented and unstoppable force in the world of sport.
Ruby Fuzzybrush's Star Dance: Book 7 (Magic Animal Friends #7)
by Daisy MeadowsWelcome to a magical world where animals talk and play - just like you and me!Lily and Jess can't wait to see the Fuzzybrush fox family wake the stars with their magical dance. But wicked witch Grizelda's black dragon is determined to make the forest dark - forever!Can Ruby Fuzzybrush help the girls reverse the spell on her family and save the forest?
Ruby Red Shoes Goes To London (Ruby Red Shoes #3)
by Kate KnappRuby Red Shoes is a white hare who lives in a prettily painted caravan with her grandmother. Ruby is gentle, cheerful and enchanting. She is a very aware hare and loves animals and people, trees and nature - not forgetting red shoes . . . She also loves to travel! Join Ruby Red Shoes on her adventure to London at Christmas-time, as she visits the sights, rides the Underground, sees snow for the first time and has a surprising encounter with the Queen!Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London is Kate Knapp's third installment in the Ruby Red Shoes series, and features gorgeous full-colour illustrations. Discover more of Ruby's adventures in Ruby Red Shoes: A Very Aware Hare and Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris.'Has the tenderness of a modern Beatrix Potter' Metro'Utterly charming: think a modern Little Grey Rabbit' Bookseller
Ruby Red Shoes Goes To Paris (Ruby Red Shoes #2)
by Kate KnappJoin Ruby Red Shoes on her second adventure: in Paris!Ruby Red Shoes and her grandmother are on holiday in Paris and Ruby is fizzing with excitement as she explores. She practices her best French, eats buttered baguettes, and scoots about with a special new friend who shows her the sights. It's a time she'll treasure forever.Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris is a charming, heartwarming tale about the wonders of travelling, featuring gorgeous full-colour illustrations. This is the second installment in Kate Knapp's Ruby Red Shoes series – find out more about Ruby, her grandmother and her home in the first book in the series: Ruby Red Shoes: A Very Aware Hare.
Ruby Red Shoes: A Very Aware Hare (Ruby Red Shoes #1)
by Kate KnappRuby Red Shoes is a white hare who lives in a prettily painted caravan with her grandmother. Ruby is gentle, cheerful and enchanting. She is a very aware hare and loves animals and people, trees and nature, flowers and sunshine – not forgetting red shoes . . . She also loves to travel! But home is where her heart lies and she loves nothing better than tending to her chickens, drinking peppermint tea and eating strawberry jam.Ruby Red Shoes: A Very Aware Hare is a charming, heartwarming tale about a hare who treats everyone's feelings with great care, featuring gorgeous full-colour illustrations. This is the first installment in Kate Knapp's Ruby Red Shoes series – follow Ruby on her next adventure in Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris.
Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, retold by Elli Woollard: Book and CD Pack
by Elli WoollardDelightfully retold in humorous verse, with stunning illustrations throughout, this is a beautiful reworked edition of Rudyard Kipling's children's classic, Just So Stories. A gorgeous gift for imaginative young readers.In this highly illustrated collection meet the cat who walked by himself, discover how the lazy camel got his hump, how the elephant got his long trunk, find out why the rhino has such wrinkly skin and how the whale got his teeny tiny throat. These well known, richly imagined stories tell of how the world came to be as it is. This is a smart, funny and younger approach to Kipling's work, and Just So Stories as you've never seen them before. Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories are one of the enduring classics of children's literature and these witty, inventive stories have delighted generations of children. Combining the brilliant rhyming talent of Elli Woollard and beautiful illustrations from the award-winning Marta Altés, Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories is an enchanting retelling of a much-loved classic for a new generation. A book to truly treasure and one you will want to share.
The Ruff: Individuality In A Gregarious Wading Bird (Poyser Monographs #67)
by Johan G. Van RhijnThe Ruff is a fascinating species whose elaborate breeding behaviour has captivated ornithologists for decades. Their communal display grounds, or leks, provide an extreme example of a social system widespread in birds and other animals, in which brilliantly plumaged males seemingly compete for the attention of passing females. In this book, Johan van Rhijn explores this complex and intricate drama, both to lay bare the details of the players' private lives, and to provide a means of exploring the wider variety of wader breeding systems. Strands of evidence for all aspects of the Ruffs life, in and out of the breeding season, come together to give a thought-provoking insight into this important area of biology. Specialists and birdwatchers alike will have much to learn from this intriguing story and the insights it provides.
Ruffe: The spiky little freshwater ruffian
by Mark EverardThis book is dedicated to the spiky little freshwater ruffian known better as the ruffe, pope, 'tommy ruffe' and other local names. A fascinating little fish, the ruffe is long overdue a book all of its own. Much loved by many anglers, ruffe can also be problematic when introduced beyond their native range. Scientist, author and broadcaster Dr Mark Everard details fascinating aspects of the biology, angling and wider contributions to society of the ruffe.
Ruffe: The spiky little freshwater ruffian
by Mark EverardThis book is dedicated to the spiky little freshwater ruffian known better as the ruffe, pope, 'tommy ruffe' and other local names. A fascinating little fish, the ruffe is long overdue a book all of its own. Much loved by many anglers, ruffe can also be problematic when introduced beyond their native range. Scientist, author and broadcaster Dr Mark Everard details fascinating aspects of the biology, angling and wider contributions to society of the ruffe.
The Rules of the Flock: Self-Organization and Swarm Structure in Animal Societies
by Helmut SatzFlocks of birds, schools of fish and swarms of locusts display amazing forms of collective motion, while huge numbers of glow worms can emit light signals with almost unbelievable synchronization. These and many other collective phenomena in animal societies take place according to laws very similar to those governing the collective behavior in the inanimate nature, such as the magnetization of iron and the light radiation of lasers. During recent years, this has led to the study of swarm behavior as a challenging new field of science, in which ideas from the physical world are applied in order to understand the formation and structure of animal swarms. From these studies, it has become clear that such collective behavior of animals emerges in a self-organized way, without any need of overall coordination. In this book, we present different swarm phenomena of the animal world and compare them to their counterparts in physics, in a conceptual and non-technical way, addressed to a general readership.
The Rules of the Flock: Self-Organization and Swarm Structure in Animal Societies
by Helmut SatzFlocks of birds, schools of fish and swarms of locusts display amazing forms of collective motion, while huge numbers of glow worms can emit light signals with almost unbelievable synchronization. These and many other collective phenomena in animal societies take place according to laws very similar to those governing the collective behavior in the inanimate nature, such as the magnetization of iron and the light radiation of lasers. During recent years, this has led to the study of swarm behavior as a challenging new field of science, in which ideas from the physical world are applied in order to understand the formation and structure of animal swarms. From these studies, it has become clear that such collective behavior of animals emerges in a self-organized way, without any need of overall coordination. In this book, we present different swarm phenomena of the animal world and compare them to their counterparts in physics, in a conceptual and non-technical way, addressed to a general readership.
Rumble, Rumble, Dinosaur (New Nursery Rhymes)
by Katrina CharmanSet to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, this riotous dinosaur adventure is perfect for dino lovers!Rumble, rumble, dinosaur!Wake up dinos, time to roar.Follow along with a whole host of different dinosaurs as they go through one exciting dino day! Join the friendly stegosaurus, the gigantic diplodocus, the fearsome T. Rex, and others as they roar their way from morning to bedtime!This text is set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, making it perfect for storytime and reading aloud. With bright colors, playful rhymes, and plenty of dinosaurs, this adventure provides endless fun for dino fans both big and small. Little ones will love singing along to the tune of a favorite nursery rhyme!
Rumble, Rumble, Dinosaur (New Nursery Rhymes)
by Katrina CharmanSet to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, this riotous dinosaur adventure is perfect for dino lovers!Rumble, rumble, dinosaur!Wake up dinos, time to roar.Follow along with a whole host of different dinosaurs as they go through one exciting dino day! Join the friendly stegosaurus, the gigantic diplodocus, the fearsome T. Rex, and others as they roar their way from morning to bedtime!This text is set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, making it perfect for storytime and reading aloud. With bright colors, playful rhymes, and plenty of dinosaurs, this adventure provides endless fun for dino fans both big and small. Little ones will love singing along to the tune of a favorite nursery rhyme!
The Rumen Microbial Ecosystem
by P. N. Hobson C. S. StewartThe Preface to the first edition of this book explained the reasons for the publication of a comprehensive text on the rumen and rumen microbes in 1988. The microbes of the ruminant's forestomach and those in related organs in other animals and birds provide the means by which herbivorous animals can digest and obtain nutriment from vegetation. In turn, humans have relied, and still do rely, on herbivores for much of their food, clothing and motive power. Herbivores also form the food of carnivorous animals and birds in the wild. The importance of the rumen microorganisms is thus apparent. But, while a knowledge of rumen organisms is not strictly neces sary for the normal, practical feeding of farm animals, in recent years there has been much more emphasis on increasing the productivity of domesti cated animals and in rearing farm animals on unusual feedstuffs. Here, a knowledge of the reactions of the rumen flora, and the limits to these reactions, can be invaluable. In addition, anaerobic rumen-type microor ganisms are found in the intestines of omnivores, including humans, and can be implicated in diseases of humans and animals. They are also found in soils and natural waters, where they playa part in causing pollution and also in reducing it, while the same organisms confined in artificial systems are essential for the purification of sewage and other polluting and toxic wastes.
The Rumen Protozoa (Brock Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience)
by Alan G. Williams Geoffrey S. ColemanAll ruminants are dependent on the microorganisms that live in their forestomach - the rumen - to break down ingested feed constituents into a form that the host animal can utilize. Protozoa are part of this complex ruminal population and are essential for the nutritional well-being and productivity of the host ruminant. Over 30 different genera (nearly 300 species) of protozoa from the rumen ecosystem have been described since their initial discovery nearly 150 years ago. This book brings together, for the first time, the available information on these protozoa. It comprehensively describes the characteristic anatomical features of value for their identification and includes detailed sections on techniques and methodologies for the isolation and cultivation of these fastidious, oxygen-sensitive microorganisms. Their occurrence, biochemistry, physiology, and role in the ruminal ecosystem are fully reviewed. Particular emphasis is given to potential improvement of the nutrition and productivity of the host ruminant through manipulation of the protozoal population and its activities.
Rumenology
by Danilo Domingues Millen Mario De Beni Arrigoni Rodrigo Dias Lauritano PachecoThe book combines information about the behaviour that allowed ruminants to survive and to evolve on Earth: the rumen. Furthermore, the reader will find aspects involving rumen anatomy, physiology, microbiology, fermentation, metabolism, manipulation, kinetics and modeling. Thus, the book was not only organized to help students involved in areas such as ruminant nutrition and ruminant production but collegians gathering material for teaching practices.
Run! The Elephant Weighs a Ton!
by Adam FrostTom and Sophie join their mum in a dash to Whipsnade Zoo to help an elephant deliver its calf, and another exciting adventure begins. At first the elephant calf, Dirshani, struggles to survive as it doesn't eat well. With expert help and lots of care, the calf grows stronger, and Tom and Sophie have a new animal friend. During the next year the young elephant is encouraged to take its place in the herd. Tom and Sophie dream that one day Dirshani will take part in the elephant demonstration. But there are a few hurdles for them all to cross before that dream is realised in this thrilling animal adventure.
Run for the Hills (Run With The Wind Ser.)
by Tom McCaughrenAll the foxes who lived in Glensinna knew about Sionnach, the Great White Fox. But they had never seen him. Some thought that on one occasion they might have, but it was only a fleeting thought and one that had passed like the melting snow. When they were cubs their mother had told them the story as she whiled away the time in the darkness of their earth... After almost a decade and a half, award-winning author Tom McCaughren returns with a new installment in his bestselling series!
Run, Spot, Run: The Ethics of Keeping Pets
by Jessica PierceA life shared with pets brings many emotions. We feel love for our companions, certainly, and happiness at the thought that we’re providing them with a safe, healthy life. But there’s another emotion, less often acknowledged, that can be nearly as powerful: guilt. When we see our cats gazing wistfully out the window, or watch a goldfish swim lazy circles in a bowl, we can’t help but wonder: are we doing the right thing, keeping these independent beings locked up, subject to our control? Is keeping pets actually good for the pets themselves? That’s the question that animates Jessica Pierce’s powerful Run, Spot, Run. A lover of pets herself (including, over the years, dogs, cats, fish, rats, hermit crabs, and more), Pierce understands the joys that pets bring us. But she also refuses to deny the ambiguous ethics at the heart of the relationship, and through a mix of personal stories, philosophical reflections, and scientifically informed analyses of animal behavior and natural history, she puts pet-keeping to the test. Is it ethical to keep pets at all? Are some species more suited to the relationship than others? Are there species one should never attempt to own? And are there ways that we can improve our pets’ lives, so that we can be confident that we are giving them as much as they give us? Deeply empathetic, yet rigorous and unflinching in her thinking, Pierce has written a book that is sure to help any pet owner, unsettling assumptions but also giving them the knowledge to build deeper, better relationships with the animals with whom they’ve chosen to share their lives.