Civilization and the Limpet

Readers seeking enlightenment on sea creatures need look no farther. In 25 breezy, sometimes whimsical essays, Wells (You and Me and the Animal World) provides an entertaining introduction to marine biology, from sea urchins, limpets and tubeworms to mackerel, dolphins and basking sharks. He explains buoyancy, navigation, luminescence, hermaphroditism and warm-bloodedness in certain fish. A yachtsman, Wells describes the buildup of marine organisms on boat hulls (fouling) as ""an imitation of a moderately sheltered coastline."" His specialty is the cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish, nautilus), and he offers advice on catching an octopus and recounts his adventures collecting nautilus in New Guinea. Finally, he defends a career in biology as one that is never boring--a claim borne out by his winsome book. (Oct.)