The Most Perfect Thing Inside (and Outside) a Bird's Egg
Langue : Anglais
Auteur : BIRKHEAD Tim
How are eggs of different shapes made, and why are they the shape they
are? When does the shell of an egg harden? Why do some eggs contain two
yolks? How are the colours and patterns of an eggshell created, and why
do they vary? And which end of an egg is laid first – the blunt end or
the pointy end?
These are just some of the questions A Bird's Egg answers, as the journey of a bird's egg from creation and fertilisation to its eventual hatching is examined, with current scientific knowledge placed within an historical context. Beginning with an examination of the stunning eggs of the guillemot, each of which is so variable in pattern and colour that no two are ever the same, acclaimed ornithologist Tim Birkhead then looks at the eggs of hens, cuckoos and many other birds, revealing weird and wonderful facts about these miracles of nature. Woven around and supporting these facts are extraordinary stories of the individuals who from as far back as Ancient Egypt have been fixated on the study and collection of eggs, not always to the benefit of their conservation.
Firmly grounded in science and enriched by a wealth of observation drawn from a lifetime spent studying birds, A Bird's Egg is an illuminating and engaging exploration of the science behind eggs and the history of man's obsession with them.
These are just some of the questions A Bird's Egg answers, as the journey of a bird's egg from creation and fertilisation to its eventual hatching is examined, with current scientific knowledge placed within an historical context. Beginning with an examination of the stunning eggs of the guillemot, each of which is so variable in pattern and colour that no two are ever the same, acclaimed ornithologist Tim Birkhead then looks at the eggs of hens, cuckoos and many other birds, revealing weird and wonderful facts about these miracles of nature. Woven around and supporting these facts are extraordinary stories of the individuals who from as far back as Ancient Egypt have been fixated on the study and collection of eggs, not always to the benefit of their conservation.
Firmly grounded in science and enriched by a wealth of observation drawn from a lifetime spent studying birds, A Bird's Egg is an illuminating and engaging exploration of the science behind eggs and the history of man's obsession with them.
Tim Birkhead is a professor at the University of Sheffield where he teaches animal behaviour and the history of science. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London and his research has taken him all over the world in the quest to understand the lives of birds.
Date de parution : 04-2016
Ouvrage de 288 p.
Disponible chez l'éditeur (délai d'approvisionnement : 14 jours).
Prix indicatif 24,00 €
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