The Life of the Meadow Brown

Description:

Scarce monograph on the meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina). This species is one of the commonest butterflies in Britain, and has been the subject of ecological investigations by the author for nearly forty years. This book fills in the background to this extensive peice of research by describing how the work has expanded from relatively simple ecological problems into the fields of genetics, cytology, biochemistry and behaviour. Both the devising and implementation of the varied investigations, and the modifications needed as the fund of knowledge increased, are described in depth. Problems of decision making in research, methods of handling quantitative data, and the evolution of special ecological techniques are also discussed, and many suggestions for further study, which could provide useful starting points for project work, are included.

This book shows the naturalist how much valuable information can be derived from simple observation and systematic recording. Sixth-form and college students in particular will find the account a useful introduction to experimental work in ecology and discover that valuable contributions to knowledge can still be made with the minimum of background information and equipment.

Condition

Vg. From the library of British coleopterist, Robert Angus, with his name pencilled to endpaper.