The Secrets of Jesuit Soupmaking

For conservationists whose knowledge of New Zealand's natural history is limited to the kiwi (bird or fruit) and, perhaps, the tuatara, this lavishly illustrated volume is a welcome bonanza. Lockley (Flight of the Storm Petrel) here tours us through the country's diverse habitats, from the near-tropical north to the sub-Antarctic, from suburban gardens and farmland to mountain lakes and forests, to rugged coasts and islands. The remote southern islands are home grounds for many seabirds: penguins, shearwaters, petrels and the world's largest albatrosses. One of the latter is the oldest known banded birdat 65, ""Grandma'' still lays eggs. With exotic trees, butterflies and flightless birds, New Zealand has a rich variety of flora and fauna. In addition to endemic species, there are self-introduced species from Australia (wafted across the Tasman Sea) as well as birds and mammals brought from England by settlers. Lockley's informal text is enhanced by Betty Brownlie's exquisite illustrations. A superb introduction to a strange and wonderful land. (May)