Fish Watching: An Outdoor Guide to Freshwater Fishes

Designed to be used in the field, this guide describes major types of freshwater habitats and the fish to be found in each. Information on habitat selection, food and feeding habits, defense adaptations and reproductive mechanisms of fish is supplemented by b&w drawings and 36 color photos. Two appendices discuss fish classification and scientific names. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

There are guides to watching birds (Sheila Buff's Birding for Beginners, LJ 6/1/93), whales (Patricia Corrigan's Where the Whales Are, LJ 3/15/91), and marine life (David Bulluch's The Underwater Naturalist, LJ 3/1/91). There is even a guide for catching and watching fish in a tank (John Quinn's Our Native Fishes, LJ 2/1/91). But Smith here endorses watching fish in their freshwater home. Smith, an ichthyologist, knows his subject well. He gives clear suggestions on how to start watching fish and provides descriptions of fish habitats and fishes classified by family with line drawings and three dozen color photos. There is a slight emphasis on Eastern U.S. species, but Smith intends this guide to be used in the field. His personal anecdotes add interest. Brief appendixes for classification and names of fishes are included. For public libraries with large hobby collections, especially near freshwater creeks, ponds, bogs, etc. (Index not seen.)-Jean E. Crampon, Hancock Biology & Oceanography Lib, Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.