A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor

Captivated while still young by the splendor and profusion of the tropics, Alexander Skutch, world-renowned ornithologist and author of twelve books on tropical birds, resolved to devote his life to its study and interpretation. For well over half a century, he has painstakingly observed the creatures that surround him, particularly the birds, and he has thought long and deeply – perhaps more than most naturalists – about the significance of this abundant life. In this reflective account of life in the tropics, Skutch offers readers both his observations and his interpretations of what he has experienced. He brings a thoughtful, unequaled voice to the description of the world he has grown to know and understand, a world considered forbidding by most northerners and still largely unexplored.

For over 50 years Skutch, the dean of neotropical ornithology, has sprinkled his natural history writings with his philosophy of nature and man. This volume is divided between natural history of tropical organisms (mostly birds) and his perspectives on subjects such as the origin of beauty, ethics, and feeling close to nature. His descriptions of events in nature are accurate but his interpretation of those events and the role of humans in nature stems more from his idealistic philosophy than from reality. For example, he counsels against conservationists saving "savage and destructive" predators. Recommended, with reservations, for collections serving lay readers and specialists. James R. Karr, Smithsonian Tropical Research Inst., Balboa, Panama
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.