National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells (National Audubon Society Field Guides) [Paperback]

NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY (Author)

Book Description

Series: National Audubon Society Field Guides

The essential book for beach-combers and divers, this guide explores more than 705 seashells, living mollusks, abalone, periwinkles, conchs, limpets, oysters, clams, mussels, and cockles found on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts of North America and the West Indies. The photographs are arranged by shape and color, making identification quick and easy.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The essential book for beach-combers and divers, this guide explores more than 705 seashells, living mollusks, abalone, periwinkles, conchs, limpets, oysters, clams, mussels, and cockles found on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts of North America and the West Indies. The photographs are arranged by shape and color, making identification quick and easy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 896 pages
• Publisher: Knopf (August 12, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394519132
• ISBN-13: 978-0394519135
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1.3 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Seashells

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Seashell Reference, June 18, 2000

By 

Tan Youwei - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells (National Audubon Society Field Guides) (Paperback)

This excellent guide has unique detailed information on seashells found on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America as well as well as the West Indies. A picture paints a thousand words, not to mention a fully coloured photograph of each of the 705 different species of seashells or living mollusk. In addition to these detailed photographs, the author of the book managed to include original and useful information on every seashell, revealing how each seashell is unique. Some of these information cannot be found in any other book, making this book essential to every seashell collector. 671 seashells are covered in full detail with notes provided on 200 others. This amazing book consists of 896 pages of detailed photographs and extensive text showing the great diversity of American seashells. To be a qualified seashell collector, you have got to get this book! Don't wait any longer, purchase the book from Amazon!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate shell reference., July 11, 2004

By 

J. Connor "film and book fanatic'." (Palm Desert, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells (National Audubon Society Field Guides) (Paperback)

The Audubon Guide to Seashells is one of the best known and most reliable field references. Whether beachcombing, snorkeling over a reef, or searching a tidepool, this guide will come in handy for all those locations. Many seashells are listed in this guide, coming out at more than 600 in all. The shells are a feast for the eyes, coming in all shapes, colors, and patterns. The best and most admirable family covered are the Limpets. From dull green to stunning black and white striped, this is the most detailed and beautiful family listed in the book. Cone snails are also covered very well. The main question here is: Why does the book have negative ratings? Flipping to the back for details may be tiresome for lazy readers. There is nothing unprofessional about the book in any way. It VERY professional and a good recommendation.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The National Audubon Society Field Guide To Shells, October 10, 2004

By 

E. Lyle (the South) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells (National Audubon Society Field Guides) (Paperback)

This book does an unusually fine job of including lots of info without becoming too bulky and cumbersome to carry in the field. Photos of the 700+ specimens measure a compact 3.5 X 2 inches. Most show front and back of the shell, a big help since they differ so much. Sometimes if a species varies a lot there are multiple specimens. Write-ups of species are on much thinner paper than the photos, helping to keep the book's size down. They include 1) detailed descriptions pointing out both variations and consistencies from one shell to another of that species, 2) a short note on habitat, 3) another on range 4) and sometimes added info that doesn't fit into those categories. I bought this book to identify three shells I saw in California. Two of them were in it. This is a great little book that I wouldn't want to be without.