The Raptor and the Lamb

To most readers interested in natural history, predation is an endlessly fascinating subject. McGowan, professor of zoology at the University of Toronto, author of Dinosaurs, Spitfires and Sea Dragons, here gives us a splendid, close-up look at predator-prey relationships among living things--from acacia trees and potato vines to plankton, wasps and killer whales; from reptiles and raptors to scorpions and dinosaurs. He reminds us that predators and prey are mutually beneficial, helping to maintain a balance between population site and natural resources. He notes that each species has evolved strategies to improve its chances of success; most prey species can run faster than their predators, for example. McGowan examines various defensive strategies--vigilance, speed, camouflage (countershading, stripes, disruptive coloration)--as well. He fills his book with fascinating tidbits, pointing out, for instance, that a Komodo dragon consumes three to four times its body weight in a year, while a lioness needs 20 times its weight. This is a remarkable account of interdependence in nature. Line drawings throughout. (Aug.)