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From
the pages of 'The British Tarantula Society Journal'
Book Review
"The Tarantula"
by William J. Baerg
Peter Kirk
ISBN 0 9524083 09
Price £10 available from:-
Fitzgerald Publishing, P.O. Box 804, London, SE13 5JF.
At long last this truly classic publication is once again
available to the public. Many a time I have scoured the
shelves of second-hand book shops and stalls at various
shows searching for this book, but without success. Now I
have in front of me a pristine copy, and for only a
tenner!
The Tarantula was first published in 1958, and I believe
that it remains one of the most detailed studies on North
and Central American tarantulas to date, and is the
culmination of many, many years of research into their
habitats and behaviour. Included in here are chapters
that have not really been covered elsewhere, particularly
in the latter part of the book. The book is divided into
the following informative chapters; Introduction,
Distribution, Seasonal History, Life of the Female
Tarantula, Life of the Male, The Mating Act, Natural
Enemies of Tarantulas, Self Defense, In Quest of
Tarantulas Elsewhere, How Poisonous Are Tarantulas?, Some
Laboratory Studies of the Poison and Of What Use are
Tarantulas? The book is also enhanced throughout with
both photographs and illustrations.
The text is detailed, highly readable and written in such
a way that all will be able to understand. Despite it's
original publication date there have been few books of
it's kind that really compare. The book itself has been
superbly produced and looks great with its gold-embossed
cover.
I thoroughly recommend this book for all members, from
the most inexperienced novice to the "seasoned
pro" - everyone can expect to gain something from
reading it.
© Copyright 'The British Tarantula
Society', 1998
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