Learn only the essential aspects of Python without cluttering up your mind with features you may never use. This compact book is not a "best way to write code" type of book; rather, the author goes over his most-used functions, which are all you need to know as a beginner and some way beyond. Lean Python takes 58 Python methods and functions and whittles them down to 15: as author Paul Gerrard says, "I haven't found a need for the re...
The pigeon is the quintessential city bird. Domesticated thousands of years ago as a messenger and a source of food, its presence on our sidewalks is so common that people consider the bird a nuisance—if they notice it at all. Yet pigeons are also kept for pleasure, sport, and profit by people all over the world, from the “pigeon wars” waged by breeding enthusiasts in the skies over Brooklyn to the Million Dollar Pigeon Race held eve...
Vertebrate invasive species are important ecologically, socially, and scientifically throughout much of the globe. However, the interdiction and options for management of invasive species are driven by localized regulation at the country or even state level and thus the management of species must be framed within that context. This book is focused around the management of invasive vertebrate species in the United States, although rea...
Ancestors of domestic pigs, wild boars are tough, resourceful omnivores that have presented humans since prehistoric times with a tricky situation: they make for a delicious food source, but they are formidable animals with long tusks that can inflict serious harm. Wild Boar traces the interaction of humans and boars in fascinating detail, showing how our relationship has evolved over time and how it can be seen today as fundamentall...
Andrew Rimas and Evan D.G. Fraser have joined together to tell the remarkable story of the noble cow in Beef: The Untold Story of How Milk, Meat, and Muscle Shaped the World. In the bestselling tradition of Cod and Salt comes a lively history of our ongoing relationship with an animal that we have worked alongside, consumed, and even worshipped for thousands of years. The history of the cow is both surprising and fascinating, and Bee...
From the time they became domesticated, horses have fulfilled roles imposed by human societies. Changing economies, societies and technologies have transformed the predominant roles held by horses in human life. They are now overwhelmingly employed in improving the quality of human life. Across Europe the status of the horse is evolving as ridership grows, and these changes create new economic opportunities for equine and rural enter...
Drawing on an international range of expertise, this book reviews research addressing safety, quality and sustainability in milk production. Part 1 reviews pathogens affecting milk, their detection and control. The second part of the book discusses the environmental impact of dairy farming and ways it can be better managed, from improved nutrition to ways of protecting biodiversity. The book also reviews ways of supporting smallholde...
Your hands-on guide to being a responsible rabbit owner Want to raise a happy, healthy bunny? This practical guide givesyou everything you need to know to successfully adopt, nurture,live with, and love a rabbit. From choosing a rabbit and preparingits home to training, healthcare, and having fun with your bunny,you get a wealth of expert tips that will have your rabbit (andyou) hopping with joy! Jump into bunny basics decide wheth...
Now in its Fifth Edition, Functional Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals provides a basic understanding of domestic animal anatomy and physiology, taking an interconnected approach to structure and function of the horse, dog, cat, cow, sheep, goat, pig, and chicken. Offers a readable introduction to basic knowledge in domestic animal anatomy and physiology Covers equine, canine, feline, bovine, ovine, ruminant, swine, and poul...
This comprehensive book provides first-hand information on the diversity, biology, and ecology of venomous stingrays of freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems. Each year thousands of injuries to swimmers and surfers are reported, with 750 to 1,500 stingray injuries reported each year in the US alone. As more vacationers spend their leisure time exploring coasts and tropical reefs, often in isolated areas without immediate access...