Rattlesnake: Portrait of a Predator
von William S. Brown (Vorwort), Manny Rubio (Autor)
Gebundene Ausgabe: 239 Seiten
Verlag: Smithsonian Books,US (Oktober 1998 )
Sprache: Englisch
Kurzbeschreibung
From Booklist
No one is neutral on the subject of rattlesnakes--people either loathe them or find them fascinating. It is also impossible to be neutral about this marvelous new book on rattlesnakes, the only poisonous snakes with the buzzing warning. Lawrence Klauber's monumental Rattlesnakes (1956) is the standard scholarly work on the subject, but Rubio's new semipopular work is a worthy successor, beautifully illustrated with the author's color photographs (which Klauber lacked). Fourteen chapters cover the basics of anatomy, senses, reproduction, fangs, and poison, as well as more esoteric subjects, such as rattlesnake roundups and religious snake-handling, with equal thoroughness and depth. Rubio's captivation with his subject comes through in his writing, but he is able to present the accounts of snake-handling and roundups with dispassion, allowing readers to form their own opinions on these controversial practices. Three excellent appendixes list scientific and common names (in English and Spanish) of all species of rattlesnakes and addresses of North American herpetological societies, and a glossary defines biological terms relevant to rattlesnakes. A lengthy bibliography completes an extremely valuable book, which is highly recommended for all libraries. Nancy Bent
From Kirkus Reviews
Rubio, a photographer, provides some 250 color photographs of North American rattlesnakes, as well as a useful, succinct summary of what's known about rattlesnake evolution, anatomy, and behavior. The photographs of the snakes in their natural terrains stress the perfection of their camouflagemany can coil perfectly into their surroundings. The shots also capture the extraordinary beauty and grace of these lethal (though generally shy) creatures. Several chapters are devoted to the impact rattlesnakes have had on American art (especially the artand religionof some southwestern Indian tribes) and the American imagination (there is a chapter on churches that practice the handling of rattlesnakes as part of an ecstatic communion with God). While it's unlikely that Rubio's work will much change the attitude of those who view the rattlesnake as a candidate for extermination, it may sway those still undecided into a more balanced, and even appreciative, view of an ancient, resourceful, and often quite beautiful species. A particularly handsome work of natural history. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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