As with ''Flora and Birds'', ''Bugs'' is not a
biological guide but a richly-illustrated cultural one,
seen through the eyes of writers, musicians, artists and
naturalists - from the great Tudor naturalist, Thomas
Muffet (father of Little Miss Muffet) to Irvine Welsh's
talking tapeworm in Filth - as well as contributions by
ordinary men and women who are fascinated by
creepy-crawlies of all kinds. The book is structured
along a roughly evolving path, from simple cell
life-forms - amoeba, worms, crustaceans (proof, say the
authors, of 'just how far you can go on very little') -
to bugs we all might recognise - spiders, butterflies,
bees - and back into the water to meet molluscs and
'almost-fish'. The book works so triumphantly because
author Peter Marren has examined bugs in the dusty
corners of our houses and gardens as well as traversing
mountains, lakes and fields. In addition to the
fascinating habits of the bug world, he also includes
the eccentric behaviour of the bug obsessives
themselves. But of course, the true heroes of the book
are the bugs themselves: the nimble-dicks, clock ladies
and coffin-cutters. From the Boring Sponge (its official
name!) to the Mermaid's Glove and Penis Worm, via the
glamourous Dark Crimson Underwing and Ruby-Tailed Wasp -
this rich compendium of bugs is a must not only for
naturalists but for anyone who cares about the crawling,
buzzing swarms at our feet. |
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