To our fellow creatures whose names and pictures appear in this book ... and may the call of the curlew and the cry of the coyote never perish from the marshes and the purple rimrock of our fair and pleasant land. (from the Dedication page) 

{HISTORY}

In the late 1950s when you wanted to get lost in nature for a bit, you toted along Complete Field Guide to American Wildlife by Henry Hill Collins Jr.

Published in 1959, whether you were headed to the sea for seal watching, the dunes for beachcombing, the woods for deer spying or the meadows for bird watching, Henry provided fascinating information about all you would see wherever you landed. A book written and illustrated by explorers for explorers, this gem showcases the beauty of all the American creatures sharing our wild world.

Featuring the Eastern, Central, and Northern regions of the US, here in this 683-page field guide you'll discover how to identify snakes, fish, rabbits, sealife, lizards, mammals,  a plethora of birds and many more creatures too. In contrast to highly specific field guides that tend to deal with just one type of species of animal, plant or marine life, Henry wanted to capture as many as possible for the outdoor enthusiast who was interested in learning more about all of nature as a whole instead of just one particular grouping.

Covering the expansive area East of the Rockies and north of Oklahoma, the diverse wildlife found in this part of the country includes such curiosities as the Hairy Woodpecker, the White-Beaked Dolphin, the Squirrel TreeFrog, the Common Moon Shell, the Brick-Red Moss Animal, the Swift Fox, the Long-Tailed Weasel and the Orange-Spotted Sunfish. 

Like all great field guides, this one includes classification names and descriptions of each entry along with information on habitat, habits, diet, range, and offspring. When appropriate, illustrated tracks are offered to help identify prints in the mud, snow and sand. Color plates and black and white drawings further aid identification in the wild. 

Such a fun book for scouting away the summer days, this helpful reference guide is a lovely addition to any naturalist's library. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Published in 1959 by Harper & Brothers
• 683 pages
• Includes original dust jacket
• Illustrated throughout by Russell Francis Peterson, Lloyd Sanford, Nina L. Williams, and John Cameron Yrizarry

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, this book is clean and bright throughout. The dust jacket bears some chipping areas as well as some wrinkling, and it has been reinforced with acid-free archival paper to prevent further deterioration. The spine is tight and all pages are intact.

{SIZE}

Measures 7.5" inches (length) x 5" inches (width) x 1.5" inches (thickness) and weighs 1.8 lbs.