Mammals of Britain & Europe (Collins Field Guide) [Hardcover]

David W. Macdonald (Author), Priscilla Barrett (Author)

Book Description

Series: Collins Field Guide | Publication Date: February 1999

A definitive field guide to over 230 species of mammal found in Europe and the surrounding seas Do you know the difference between a rabbit and a hare, a red deer and a roe deer, or a killer whale and a long-finned pilot whale? Do you know how to tell a red fox print from a dog's? Through a combination of detailed text and elaborate full-colour illustrations and line drawings, Field Guide Mammals will show you how to identify species as quickly and accurately as possible. Not only does it detail the field signs you are likely to find -- from tracks to droppings, to midden and hollow tree trunks -- it also contains all the biological and taxonomic information you need to positively identify each species. Each entry includes: / Detailed species descriptions and recognition tips / Information on colour and form / Habitat descriptions and information on where and when you're likely to spot the animal / Species measurements to aid identification and comparison / Maximum recorded lifespan and details of breeding and behaviour There is also extensive information which is aimed at giving readers an insight into how the animals live, such as how crested porcupine adults keep their young warm by crushing them between the parents; how many baby seals actually moult while still inside the mother and why the red fox can cause such destruction. With maps showing range and distribution plus 64 colour plates containing over 600 individual paintings, Field Guide Mammals is an indispensable guide for any naturalist wanting to learn about the fascinating world of mammals and study them in the wild.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'an excellent field guide!beautifully and lavishly illustrated' Times Literary Supplement '!an invaluable book for the amateur naturalist and professional alike' British Wildlife Magazine

About the Author

David MacDonald and Priscilla Barrett

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins Pub Ltd (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0002197790
• ISBN-13: 978-0002197793
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,005,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Complete Guide to Mammals of Europe!, January 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mammals of Britain & Europe (Collins Field Guide) (Hardcover)

I have been searching for a couple years for such a book. This Collins Field Guide is the most complete and accurate guide to the mammals of this area. For example I discovered in this book that there is a species of wallaby the was introduced to Scotland. There are many beautifully illustrated plates in the guide. This is a must for any one interesed in the wildlife of Europe.

4.0 out of 5 stars You can't miss a moose, October 30, 2010

By 

Ashtar Command "Seeker" (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mammals of Britain & Europe (Collins Field Guide) (Hardcover)

"Collins Field Guide to Mammals of Britain and Europe" covers 200 mammal species found in Europe. The colour plates are quite good. The plates and the text are not on facing pages, however. Distribution maps are included.

My main objection to this field guide is that it claims to cover "Western Europe" without defining what Western Europe means. Some of the species covered can only be found in Italy, the Balkans or Greenland!

Many of the mammals covered are well known European species: wolf, brown bear, reindeer, moose or beaver. More surprising, perhaps, are the golden jackal and the Barbary ape. Even more surprising is the inclusion of the red-necked wallaby, an Australian marsupial found at two locations in Britain. Apparently, they escaped from captivity (who wouldn't?) and found the British heaths to their liking.

Most large land mammals are common knowledge (you can't miss a moose!) but if you absolutely must identify shrews, mice or bats, this field guide is probably a must. Interestingly, it has a companion volume, called "European Mammals: Inside their lives", but I haven't seen it. It's apparently more of a natural history than a field guide, and could perhaps be of some interest as well.