Beastly Menagerie

Beastly Menagerie
Author: Pilkington-Smythe
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2013-04-02
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1461749468

A modern-day bestiary of the most incredible animals the world has ever seen—with 200 full-color illustrations Our planet is a writhing mass of wondrous life, positively popping at the seams with peculiar creatures. Life has wriggled its way into every conceivable nook and cranny, and nature has belched out organisms into even the most inhospitable environments. A Beastly Menagerie is a compendium of 100 of these most curious of creatures, from beasts that can fit on a pinhead and survive a saunter into space, to sea creatures just waiting for an excuse to smash a ship to smithereens. And let's not forget to mention the remarkable Jesus Christ lizard, the bone-eating snot flower, the pink fairy armadillo, and the zombie fly. This beautifully illustrated collection will delight and bedazzle fans of the amazing animal kingdom in equal measure. Narrated by the affable eccentric Sir Pilkington-Smythe and assisted by his cronies at The Proceedings of the Ever So Strange, each entry is an enlightening and marvelous foray into our world and all its wonders . . . topped off with a soupçon of silliness. An excerpt Sharks are pretty pleased with themselves, and so they should be. You see, they are basically rippling slabs of muscle in gunmetal grey, with row upon row of huge razor-sharp teeth—awesome eating machines that have remained unchanged for millennia. . . . Of course, some sharks don't look so tough. Think of the bizarre hammerhead, goblin, and frilled sharks. Not that they're to be trifled with. And then there's the cookie cutter shark, a sniveling little guttersnipe who looks more like a fat lady's arm holding a kitchen utensil than the pinnacle of predatory evolution.

A Beastly Menagerie

A Beastly Menagerie
Author: Sir Pilkington-Smythe
Publisher:
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2010
Genre: Exotic animals
ISBN: 9781770079304

A Beastly Menagerie

A Beastly Menagerie
Author: Sir Pilkington-Smythe
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2010
Genre: Exotic animals
ISBN: 9781599219868

A modern-day bestiary of the most incredible animals the world has ever seen--with 200 full-color illustrations A Beastly Menagerie is a lavishly illustrated guide to the strangest creatures in the animal kingdom. Written and presented in a mock-Victorian style by the author's alter-ego, Sir Pilkington-Smythe, it contains fascinating and hilarious insights into 100 different bizarre animals. Each entry is factually accurate and rigorously researched. A little bit of it has judiciously leaked onto the Internet in the form of a blog-- The Ever So Strange Animal Almanac (weirdimals.wordpress.com)--where it has met with phenomenal success. An excerpt Sharks are pretty pleased with themselves, and so they should be. You see, they are basically rippling slabs of muscle in gunmetal grey, with row upon row of huge razor-sharp teeth--awesome eating machines that have remained unchanged for millennia. ... Of course, some sharks don't look so tough. Think of the bizarre hammerhead, goblin, and frilled sharks. Not that they're to be trifled with. And then there's the cookie cutter shark, a sniveling little guttersnipe who looks more like a fat lady's arm holding a kitchen utensil than the pinnacle of predatory evolution. Sir Pilkington-Smythe is an erstwhile scholar, self-professed connoisseur, raconteur, and bon vivant who gallivants around the globe in search of the most outlandish anecdotes, and this is his bestiary. Danny Beck helps him out with his bags and with big words. An award-winning writer and filmmaker with a BS in biology, he is also an ardent naturalist.

Beastly Natures

Beastly Natures
Author: Dorothee Brantz
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2010-08-03
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0813929954

Although the animal may be, as Nietzsche argued, ahistorical, living completely in the present, it nonetheless plays a crucial role in human history. The fascination with animals that leads not only to a desire to observe and even live alongside them, but to capture or kill them, is found in all civilizations. The essays collected in Beastly Natures show how animals have been brought into human culture, literally helping to build our societies (as domesticated animals have done) or contributing, often in problematic ways, to our concept of the wild. The book begins with a group of essays that approach the historical relevance of human-animal relations seen from the perspectives of various disciplines and suggest ways in which animals might be brought into formal studies of history. Differences in species and location can greatly affect the shape of human-animal interaction, and so the essays that follow address a wide spectrum of topics, including the demanding fate of the working horse, the complex image of the American alligator (at turns a dangerous predator and a tourist attraction), the zoo gardens of Victorian England, the iconography of the rhinoceros and the preference it reveals in society for myth over science, relations between humans and wolves in Europe, and what we can learn from society’s enthusiasm for "political" animals, such as the pets of the American presidents and the Soviet Union’s "space dogs." Taken together, these essays suggest new ways of looking not only at animals but at human history. Contributors Mark V. Barrow Jr., Virginia Tech * Peter Edwards, Roehampton University * Kelly Enright, Rutgers University * Oliver Hochadel, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona * Uwe Lübken, Rachel Carson Center, Munich * Garry Marvin, Roehampton University * Clay McShane, Northeastern University * Amy Nelson, Virginia Tech * Susan Pearson, Northwestern University * Helena Pycior, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee * Harriet Ritvo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology * Nigel Rothfels, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee * Joel A. Tarr, Carnegie Mellon University * Mary Weismantel, Northwestern University

Beastly Feasts

Beastly Feasts
Author: Bob Forbes
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Total Pages: 104
Release: 2007-09-06
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781585679294

Presents a selection of humorous poems about the antics of both domestic and wild animals.

The Afterlives of Animals

The Afterlives of Animals
Author: Samuel J. M. M. Alberti
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2011
Genre: Art
ISBN: 0813931673

This collection of essays comprises short "biographies" of a number of famous taxidermied animals. Each essay traces the life, death and museum "afterlife" of a specific creature, illuminating the overlooked role of the dead beast in the modern human-animal encounter through practices as disparate as hunting and zookeeping.

Beastly Glasgow

Beastly Glasgow
Author: Barclay Price
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2022-11-15
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1398113425

Animals have played a vital role in shaping our towns and cities from the earliest settlements. Beastly Glasgow offers a fascinating insight into the oft-forgotten histories of the animals that helped to drive the economy and enrich the culture of Glasgow.

Beastly London

Beastly London
Author: Hannah Velten
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2013-08-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1780232179

Horse-drawn cabs rattling down muddy roads, cattle herded through the streets to the Smithfield meat market for slaughter, roosters crowing at the break of dawn—London was once filled with a cacophony of animal noises (and smells). But over the last thirty years, the city seems to have banished animals from its streets. In Beastly London, Hannah Velten uses a wide range of primary sources to explore the complex and changing relationship between Londoners of all classes and their animal neighbors. Velten travels back in history to describe a time when Londoners shared their homes with pets and livestock—along with a variety of other pests, vermin, and bedbugs; Londoners imported beasts from all corners of the globe for display in their homes, zoos, and parks; and ponies flying in hot air balloons and dancing fleas were considered entertainment. As she shows, London transformed from a city with a mainly exploitative relationship with animals to the birthplace of animal welfare societies and animal rights’ campaigns. Packed with over one hundred illustrations, Beastly London is a revealing look at how animals have been central to the city’s success.

The Gift of Imagination

The Gift of Imagination
Author: JB Malatji
Publisher: XinXii
Total Pages: 69
Release: 2024-05-25
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 3989832409

"In 'The Gift of Imagination: The Power of Curious Minds,' young readers aged 9-12 are invited on a mesmerizing journey with siblings Sarah and Tom, as they uncover the canvas for magical dreams within the mysterious confines of their new home. Their adventure begins in a quaint, picturesque town, where a seemingly ordinary house with a long-forgotten attic awaits to reveal its secrets, igniting the power of imagination and curiosity in curious little minds. As the siblings settle into their new surroundings, the allure of a locked attic, veiled in shadows and whispers of untold stories, calls to them. Their innate curiosity leads to the discovery of an ancient key, unlocking not just the attic, but also a gateway to the magical library-a realm where beyond magic fantasy comes to life, and talking animals and mysterious beings of the magic world become their guides and companions. This hidden attic, far from being a dusty relic of the past, unfolds as a treasure trove of forgotten lore, propelling Sarah, and Tom into an extraordinary adventure. They embark on a quest that weaves through the fabric of imagination and creativity, unravelling the town's hidden history and the enchanting tales of its past inhabitants. 'The Gift of Imagination: The Power of Curious Minds' is a tale of adventure and discovery, where each chapter paints a vivid picture of wonder, exploration, and the bonds of friendship. Sarah and Tom, together with their new friends from the town, delve deeper into the mysteries that bind them, driven by teamwork and the thrill of discovery. Their journey through the realms of imagination teaches invaluable lessons on the significance of history, the strength found in unity, and the courage to persevere. The story reaches its climax as the children, through clues pieced together with imagination and creativity, unearth the long-hidden treasure. This discovery, rich in its historical and emotional value, transcends their wildest dreams, showcasing that the true treasure lies in the journey itself and the friendships forged along the way. 'The Gift of Imagination: The Power of Curious Minds' extends beyond a mere narrative; it's an invitation to young readers to explore the boundless realms of their imagination, to see the world around them as a canvas for magical dreams, and to recognize the magic that lies in uncovering the unknown. This enchanting tale champions the power of curious little minds to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, urging readers to embrace the adventures that await in the magical library of life."

Beastly Edinburgh

Beastly Edinburgh
Author: Barclay Price
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
Total Pages: 151
Release: 2022-03-15
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 139810731X

Dating back to the earliest settlements, animals have played a vital role in shaping our towns and cities. This new series offers a fascinating insight into the oft-forgotten histories of the animals that helped to drive the economy and enrich our culture.