More top reads if you like Attenborough...
...two more great reads for wildlife-lovers and armchair naturalists...
Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe (Collins Field Guide) by Nick Arnold & Denys Ovenden
This field guide to reptiles and amphibians describes and illustrates every species found in Britain and Europe. The book contains descriptions of every species of salamander, newt, frog, tree frog, toad, tortoise, turtle, terrapin, gecko, agama, lizard, chameleon, slow worm, skink, amphisbaenian and snake found in mainland Europe. Every species and distinct subspecies is described in detail, with notes on its range, size, colour and markings, diagnostic characters, habitat, behaviour and, in the case of venomous snakes, the type and virulence of its poison. The final part of the book deals with the identification of the eggs and tadpoles of frogs, toads, newts and salamanders. There are also introductions to each group of animals, with helpful keys to aid identification where necessary, an introduction to the biology of reptiles and amphibians and how best to study this fascinating part of our fauna.
The Great Naturalists: From Aristotle to Darwin by Julia Brittain and Robert Huxley
This book tells the story of the development of ideas about natural history as seen through the lives, observations and discoveries of nearly forty great naturalists, from Classical times to the end of the 19th century. From such giants as Aristotle, Linnaeus and Darwin to less lauded but nonetheless important figures as Antony van Leeuwenhoek, Nicolas Steno and Mary Anning, all the people here contributed massively to our knowledge of the natural world, enabling us to understand and appreciate it today.
