David Quammen "Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature."
Essays discuss bats, octopuses, crows, snakes, cockroaches, dinosaurs, bisons, animal rights, hypothermia, sea cucumbers, black widow spiders, and mosquitoes. He also ask a question whether is sex necessary in nature. The paradox of the existence of sexual reproduction is that though it is ubiquitous in multicellular organisms, there are ostensibly many inherent disadvantages to reproducing sexually when weighed against the relative advantages of alternative forms of reproduction, such as asexual reproduction.
The author's is thought-provoking, insightful and often humorous, and takes on a far-ranging variety of natural subjects. The first section of the book deals with some of nature's more unsavory beasties--mosquitoes, black widow spiders among them. From there he veers to character studies of a number of interesting personalities, including Jack Horner, the Montana paleontologist, and Eugene Marais, a fascinating multi-careered South African.
Laurel. First edition. 1986.
Paperback.
New book. Very minor shelf wear. Name of previous owner. Book in very good technical condition.