Butterflies and Moths

I so wish I could remember the species better, there should be some hope for me with the Butterflies, there are only around 59 species, but the moths, I have to contend with over 2500 of those!

Time for a Field Guide….

As usual, Collins have published cutting edge guides. I am not sure their Caterpillars volume should be taken on a dedicated nature ramble but the Butterflies guide with superlative illustrations by one of, if the the most, proficient, insect artists in the country, covers 440 species, which is just about all of those to be found in Britain & Europe.

Field Guides are all well and good, but a book on the natural history of our beloved species is what is required to gain a greater understanding of their biology and evolution. The Field Guides are good, but with so many species to pack in, any information on each species is very limited as a result.

The first book I purchased on the natural history of butterflies was a classic in literature- number one in the New Naturalist series, E.B.Ford’s Butterflies which was first published in 1945.  OK, so a lot has been learnt since Ford and his contemporaries did their groundbreaking work, but the great majority of the information in the volume still holds up today as accessible, informative text.

Both John Feltwell and Marks Young’s volumes cover breeding, feeding, distribution and life history. I feel that the Poyser Natural History has the edge over the Facts on File book, but that befits such a large group, many of which are rarely seen as they are nocturnal. As homage to that, this is the only photograph I have taken of books from my shelves, at night. In the very garden where I have hung strips of cloth covered with home brewed pulpy mixes of sweet smelling fruit, later to venture out under cover of darkness to see what had descended on them on warm summer nights. Such great fun, why don’t I do it still?

Books in featured image:

The Natural History of Moths, Poyser Natural History, Mark Young. T & A D Poyser, 1997. ISBN 0 85661 103 4

The Natural History of Butterflies, John Feltwell. Facts on File, 1986. ISBN 0 8160 1561 9

Butterflies of Britain & Europe, Collins Field Guide. Tom Tolman, illustrations by Richard Lewington. Harper Collins, 1997. ISBN 0 00 219992 0

Caterpillars of Britain & Europe, Collins Field Guide. D.J. Carter, B. Hargreaves. Harper Collins, 1994 reprint with corrections. ISBN 0 00 219080 X

T & A D Poyser

I have written before on the terrific volumes published by T & A D Poyser. I have probably an uncomfortable number of their volumes sitting on my book shelves. The ‘bird monographs’ cover both species and facets of bird behaviour or associated science. If you want good, authoritative, readable treatment of avian evolution, biology, reproduction, feeding, distribution and identification, then these are the volumes to look at.

Trevor and Anna Poyser founded their publishing company in 1973, specialising in books on ornithology. The volumes now published have expanded to cover a wide range of natural history subjects on a global basis. They sold their business to Academic Press in 1990. Various takeovers followed. Today, A & C Black continue to use the T & A D Poyser imprint. New volumes continue to be published to this day. As to the earlier volumes, you will often see them for sale, if you see one at the right price, snap it up.

 

Unlike some reference works, most of the Poyser mongraphs can be read cover to cover as each author not only has a passion for his or her subject, but have also been carefully selected for their ability in conveying sometimes quite ‘difficult’ subjects. While I purchased my volumes for the information inside, these classic books, with their distinctive dust jackets have become quite collectable for others. I have only shown a select minority of my Poyser volumes, specifically those I enjoy most or find the most informative. So many books, so little time, so little money…

 

Books in featured image:

Birds in Scotland, Valerie Thom. T & A D Poyser, 1986. ISBN 0 85661 040 2

Birds in Wales, Roger Lovegrove, Graham Williams, Iolo Williams. T & A D Poyser, 1994. ISBN 0 85661 069 0

The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland, 1875-1900, Simon Holloway. T & A D Poyser, 1996. ISBN 0 85661 094 1

Birds and Forestry, Mark Avery and Roderick Leslie. T & A D Poyser, 1990. ISBN 0 85661 058 5

Man and WILDFOWL, Janet Kear. T & A D Poyser, 1990. ISBN 0 85661 055 0

The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland, Peter Lack. T & A D Poyser, 1986. ISBN 0 85661 043 7

The Ruff, Johan G. Van Rhijn. T & A D Poyser, 1991. ISBN 0 85661 062 3

Weather and Bird Behaviour, Norman Elkins. T & A D Poyser, second edition, 1988. ISBN 0 85661 051 8

Waders, their breedings, haunts and watchers, Desmond and Maimie Nethersole-Thompson. T & A D Poyser, 1986. ISBN 0 85661 042 9

Bird Habitats in Britain, R J Fuller. T & A D Poyser, 1982. ISBN 0 85661 031 3

The Status of Seabirds in Britain and Ireland, Clare Lloyd, Mark L Tasker, Ken Partridge. T & A D Poyser, 1981. ISBN 0 85661 061 5

Birds of the Strait of Gibraltar, Clive Finlayson. T & A D Poyser, 1992. ISBN 0 85661 066 6

Gulls, a guide to identification, P. J. Grant. T & A D Poyser, second edition, 1989 reprint. ISBN 0 85661 044 5

The Gannet, Bryan Nelson. T & A D Poyser, 1987. ISBN 0 85661 021 6

Estuary Birds, A J Prater. T & A D Poyser, 1981. ISBN 0 85661 029 1

In Search of Sparrows, Denis Summers-Smith. T & A D Poyser, 1992. ISBN 0 85661 073 9

 

Alfred Wainwright

Alfred Wainwright has arguably done more to popularise walking in the English Lake District than any other author. Some might feel that this is nothing to be lauded, preferring that numbers were reduced and the inevitable environmental damage from thousands of feet discontinued. Others might think his pictorial guides terribly outdated and of little help on the ground. However I give thanks to his legacy. Many is the evening my family have huddled around one of his books in the confines of a tent, or in one of those wonderful Inns with which the Lakes abound, together, we would plan our next days adventure.

Alfred Wainwright MBE (1907-1991) was a fellwalker, author and artist. His careful drawings and diagrams of the mountains and routes that he walked are scattered like confetti throughout his many books. He produced far more work than those that sit on the shelves of Three Points of the Compass, but it is the seven guides, shown at the head of this post, originally published between 1955 and 1966 (since updated) that have added much to my family’s enjoyment of the wonderful Lake District to which we returned for many years.

The original guides remained un-revised for decades and welcome updates and revision were carried out by Chris Jesty between 2005-2009. I am not generally a fan of the use of sketch maps for walking guides, preferring the mighty Ordnance Survey maps instead. But Wainwright was such a proficient observer and artist that his detailed routes and descriptions can be transferred to a map with ease, preferably over a pint the previous night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fine day on the fells is a wonderful thing indeed, just as frequent is a wet day! I cannot blame Wainwright for that, he always advises a cautionary note where required. On such days I have leafed through his guides and taken his advice, perhaps amended a day, taking in a lower top, or seeking one of his ‘easier’ paths to the summit or the descent and return to the car. It is possible, just possible, that on a day such as that, my family have cursed his books as much as I have praised them….

Books in featured image:

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book One, The Eastern Fells. Alfred Wainwright. Second edition, revised by Chris Jesty. Francis Lincoln, 2007. ISBN 978 0 7112 2465 0

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book Two, The Far Eastern Fells. Alfred Wainwright. Second edition, revised by Chris Jesty. Francis Lincoln, 2007. ISBN 978 0 7112 2466 7

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book Three, The Central Fells. Alfred Wainwright. Second edition, revised by Chris Jesty. Francis Lincoln, 2007. ISBN 978 0 7112 2414 2

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book Four, The Southern Fells. Alfred Wainwright. Second edition, revised by Chris Jesty. Francis Lincoln, 2008. ISBN 978 0 7112 2658 6

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book Five, The Northern Fells. Alfred Wainwright. Second edition, revised by Chris Jesty. Francis Lincoln, 2008. ISBN 978 0 7112 2667 8

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book Six, The North Western Fells. Alfred Wainwright. Second edition, revised by Chris Jesty. Francis Lincoln, 2008. ISBN 978 0 7112 2712 5

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book Seven, The Western Fells. Alfred Wainwright. Second edition, revised by Chris Jesty. Francis Lincoln, 2009. ISBN 978 0 7112 2199 4

 

Philip’s Guide to Minerals, Rocks & Fossils

A.C. Bishop, A.R. Woolley, W.R. Hamilton

Have you ever picked up a rock, rolled it through the fingers, felt its weight and roughness and wondered just what it was, where it had come from, how old it was, what it was made of. Then ignored the weight and stuffed it into your pack to sit later on your desk as a record of that trip. Then this book may help provide answers to some of those questions.

The 336 page Philip’s Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils is a classic handbook describing and illustrating over 600 specimens of rocks, minerals and fossils. It is up to date with current thinking and classification regarding mineral names, meteorites and tektites, more recent advances in geological sciences are also reflected. Brian Rosen from the Natural History Museum has helped update the section on fossils, building on the work of Roger Hamilton who had prepared that section for the first edition but who subsequently died in 1979.

Reasonably priced as the Philip’s guide is, there have been many reprints and several foreign language reprints since the guide was first published in 1974 when it was titled The Hamlyn Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils. If you are only after the basic information, can face up to some lack of more current scientific knowledge or interpretation, then a cheaper, earlier edition will more than suffice if you happen across one. My 1980 edition that sits on my shelf beside the more recent version has very obvious similarities. This is to take nothing away from the Philip’s update which contains 17 new plates and improved drawings.

Book in featured image:

Philip’s Guide to Minerals, Rocks & Fossils. A.C. Bishop, A.R. Woolley, W.R. Hamilton. (Philip’s) Octopus Publishing Group, revised 2003 reprint of 2001 print. ISBN 0 540 07429 2

Churches

Separate, wooden clad, bell tower at 13th C. Church of St. Augustine, Brookland

Cross the British landscape on any walk and you don’t have to go too far before you either pass a church, or spot the spire of one above the trees in the distance. Countless times I have rested on a seat just outside the church. Invariably, if the church is open, I find time to pop in for a wander round. It is always helpful to have just a little knowledge of church history, design and their features to enjoy them all the more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Needless to say, Shire come to the rescue of the curious with two very informative volumes. The 96 page on Medieval Church Architecture by Jon Cannon looks at the three great Gothic styles: Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular. He also includes some slight mention of other great buildings that have incorporated elements of church architecture in their design. Roger Boswell includes a hundred photographs in his volume, Stained Glass, and looks at glass windows from Anglo-Saxon (AD 700-1066) to the present day.

My other two featured book s are far more indepth. Geoffrey R. Sharpes work is a stand alone effort that is brimming with detail. Sadly, far more than I am ever going to be able to retain in memory. While the definitive Companion to the English Parish Church is just the ticket to quickly leaf through and get the information- Ah, that’s what it is!

Books in featured image:

The Companion to the English Parish Church, Stephen Friar. Chancellor Press, 1996, ISBN 0 75370 330 0

Historic English Churches, a Guide to their Construction, Design and Features, Geoffrey R. Sharpe. I.B. Tauris, 2011. ISBN 978 1 84885 189 4

Stained Glass, Roger Rosewell. Shire Publications, 2016, first printed 2012. ISBN 13 978 0 74781 147 3

Medieval Church Architecture, Jon Cannon. Shire Publications, 2016, first printed 2014. ISBN 13 978 0 74781 212 8

Fungi

There are any number of books on fungi, the ones shown here are a good selection and you could do far worse than these. There are also a number of guides that are truly, unbelievably awful, with poor drawings or photographs, useless descriptions and even potentially dangerous distinction.

In common with his other photographic guides, the Roger Phillips book on mushrooms is a stunner. I have been on many a fungus foray and this book has proved invaluable when identifying them at home.

There are over three thousand larger fungi to be found in the British Isles but it is impossible to find all, many are extremely rare. For example Phillips includes a photograph of Lentaria delicata, that had not been collected since first described in 1821. He also found a small mushroom near Wisley that proved to be new to science and was named in his honour. There is an updated edition from Phillips but I don’t see the need to replace the one I have.

The New Guide to Mushrooms is another photographic guide but less formal in layout. It also includes a number of ‘in habitat’ photographs. Less species are included but they are the most likely to be encountered. With the other information included, it makes a pretty good, one stop shop. though it is certainly not the ‘Ultimate’ guide it is purported to be in its title.

If you want a traditional field guide, with drawings, that is pocket sized, then the two volume set in the Penguin Nature Guides series is fine. I reckon the drawings are better than those in the Collins field guide that was released some thirty five years later! Originally published in Sweden (in Swedish) by Wahlström & Widstrand in 1977, they were translated and republished a year later by Penguin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is great fun to be had with fungi. While they may be encountered throughout the year, they are especially prevalent in the autumn, when less flowers are to be seen, so do much to restore interest in the forest floor.

It is some years since I last upended a fungi to make a spore print at home, but enjoyed those times immensely. I now content myself with the odd encounter with their various forms, striking colours and wild shapes as I pass them on my path.

 

 

Books in featured image:

Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain & Europe, Roger Phillips. Pan Books, 1981. ISBN 0 330 26441 9

The New Guide to Mushrooms, Peter Jordan. Sebastian Kelly, 1997. ISBN 1 901688 26 7

Penguin Nature Guides:

• Fungi of Northern Europe 1 Larger Fungi (excluding gill-fungi), Sven Nilsson and Olle Persson, illustrated by Bo Mossberg. Penguin Books, 1978
• Fungi of Northern Europe 2 Gill-fungi, Sven Nilsson and Olle Persson, illustrated by Bo Mossberg. Penguin Books, 1978