this charming little book dates from 1947 and has many delightful illustrations. rather like the ladybird "what to look for" pictures.
you can see from this advert on ebay:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226286207040
Charles
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Ain't that the truth!
i was delighted to spot this at the CBS. it is available on Abebooks as well as ebay. there are several other books about Peter's natural history interests.... Peter's Insect Friends/Bird Friends etc.Padfield wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:54 pm I think I have to find a copy of this for my collection ! It's beautifully written and really lovely.
It's interesting that almost all the butterflies (the exceptions being the undersides) are painted from collections, in the pinned position, as if that were what butterflies look like in nature ! The ladybird book, which I have (it was my first butterfly book), portrays at least some of the insects in more natural postures.
One of the paradoxes of today's youth is that we have never had a more environmentally conscious generation and at the same time, perhaps never had a generation more ignorant of natural history. It astounds me when I watch things like University Challenge, how many super-bright young things can't tell a blackbird from a raven or an ash from a sycamore. We desperately need the modern equivalent of Peter's Butterfly Friends !
Guy
Why bother? They can see them on their smartphonesyoung folk nowadays do not spend much time catching sticklebacks in jamjars like we did in the olden days
We are just catching up on the rounds that we recorded, just watched semi-final 1 from the last series.
Mr Khachaturian is best known for the theme music to the Onedin ( or One Din ) Line.... you know... Dur Dur Dum, Dur Dur Dum, Dur Dur Dum Da Diddy Dum Dum...Roger Gibbons wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2024 3:00 pmWe are just catching up on the rounds that we recorded, just watched semi-final 1 from the last series.
As the rounds progress, the questions get harder and the knowledge of the contestants is just mind-blowing.
There was one question on a classical music piece which they failed to get right - it was by one of the great unknown composers, Aram Khachaturian. It was the only question we knew that they didn't, which in itself was amazing.
Guy, do you recall the conversation we had while going up a rack and pinion railway (to Bretaye?) and I think you said you had not heard of him?
Roger
sighJack Harrison wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2024 1:40 pm I had a splendid education with Sticklebacks. One day, when I was aged about five, I made a bumper catch and I proudly took them home in a jam jar. Next morning, they were all dead.
With a bit of help from mum who, while not well educated (she left school at 15), was very smart. We realised that although fish live in water, they still need ‘air’ (oxygen) to breathe. I hadn’t known that, so unintentionally killed scores of Sticklebacks.
Jack
I'm truly flattered my admission of ignorance made such an impression on you, Roger!Roger Gibbons wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2024 3:00 pm There was one question on a classical music piece which they failed to get right - it was by one of the great unknown composers, Aram Khachaturian. It was the only question we knew that they didn't, which in itself was amazing.
Guy, do you recall the conversation we had while going up a rack and pinion railway (to Bretaye?) and I think you said you had not heard of him?
Roger
hmmm that does not seem to have deterred the plucky Portuguese....Jack Harrison wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:34 am But think positively, Charles. Had it not been for my efforts, instead of Cod and Chip, it might be Stickleback and Chips today.
Google had this to say:
"Why are sticklebacks hard to eat?"
"The spines can be raised and locked into position in a highly effective defence against predators like the kingfisher, making a stickleback impossible to swallow."
Jack
Indeed it did, Guy. Subjects on which you are not exceptionally knowledgable are as rare as my photos of Water Ringlet.Padfield wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 6:52 pm I'm truly flattered my admission of ignorance made such an impression on you, Roger!I remember that trip to Bretaye. We took a walk along a cow track where various Erebia come to take minerals - and I think we failed to see water ringlet ... It's a late species there. We did see a stoat among the rocks, though.