Book Details
Title: 'A Practical Guide for the Amateur Naturalist'Author: Gerald and Lee Durrell
Genres: Non-Fiction, Natural History, Reference, How-To, Field Guide
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1989 (Out-of-Print)
Gerald and Lee Durrell's book is a richly illustrated guide to becoming an amateur naturalist that encourages readers to get outside and explore the world of nature first-hand. The book mixes practical tips (such as what to pack in a naturalist's daypack, how to take plaster casts of animal tracks, how to garden for wildlife, and how to use a hand lens) with detailed information about a wide variety of habitats (chaparral, grasslands, desert, tundra, deciduous woodlands, coniferous woodlands, tropical forest, mountain, ponds, streams, wetlands, cliffs, dunes, shores, oceans and more).
The author Gerald Durrell (1925-1995) was a naturalist and zoo keeper who founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Jersey Zoo. He is also well known for his many books that recount adventures spent collecting, observing, and protecting animals. His wife, Lee Durrell, co-authored the book with Gerald and, like her late husband, is also a naturalist, author, zookeeper and television presenter.
Content Summary
Gerald and Lee Durrells' aim in writing the book is set forth in their introduction:Lee and I have tried to produce the sort of work which we ourselves, as young aspiring naturalists, would have liked to possess—a book that gives a little guidance in the somewhat bewildering and complex job of becoming a naturalist. ~ Gerald Durrell, 'Amateur Naturalist'
The main body of the book contains descriptions of the animals, plants, and ecology of various habitats. Each chapter contains text describing the various components of a habitat as well as practical tips that will help readers explore habitats their own.
The book includes the following chapters:
- On Becoming a Naturalist
- The Naturalist on Home Ground
- Fields and Fencerows
- Scrub, Shrub, and Chaparral
- Grasslands
- Desert
- Tundra
- Deciduous Woodlands
- Coniferous Woodlands
- Tropical Forest
- Moutain
- Ponds and Streams
- Marshlands
- Coastal Wetlands
- Cliffs and Dunes
- Smooth Shores
- Rocky Shores
- Seas and Oceans
- The Naturalist at Home
- What's What
- The Future
- Codes for the Naturalist
Review
'A Practical Guide for the Amateur Naturalist' provides budding naturalists with a rich foundation in exploring the natural world all around us. The book emphasizes that natural wonders are in our own back yards and one need not travel to remote corners of the globe to find an amazing array of animals and wildlife to study.The book is a good resource for students or teachers looking for science projects. It provides a good foundation in understanding different habitats, identifying the roles plants and animals play within those habitats, and developing a naturalist curiosity to ask questions and learn about what the see in nature.
There are some excerpts from the chapter 'The Naturalist at Home' which I feel are dated and are not relavant or appropriate for today's audiences. This is to be expected, since the book was published over two decads ago and is no longer in print. Nonetheless, the bulk of the book holds its value as an inspiring guide for novice naturalists.
