Amphibians and Reptiles of Nova Scotia

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

The growing interest in natural history is prompting the publication of much excellent material that previously went unpublished or was confined to technical journals. This book, for example, will find an eager readership, whereas 20 years ago it would have not been considered as a commercial venture. This attractive book is the first available one on the subject; it will be welcomed by herpetologists, students, naturalists, and scientists.

It covers all species of frogs, toads, turtles, salamanders, newts, and snakes found in the province. For each, there is generous text, giving descriptions, variations in appearance, habits, songs/sounds, reproduction, tracks, diet, and habitat. Scientific and popular names are given. The text is detailed yet readable; scientific accuracy and clear writing co-exist beautifully.

The field-identification and biology of these cold-blooded animals is supplemented with several interesting chapters for the armchair naturalist. The history of amphibians and reptiles in Nova Scotia is covered, from fossil remains and the Ice Age through to current laboratory research. There are accounts of turtles and snakes in Micmac Indian legends and a good section on the historical accounts of observations by early explorers and Victorian naturalists. A chapter on supposed sightings of sea serpents in Nova Scotia coastal waters is excellent.

In illustrative material, the work is even more successful. Photographs, drawings, maps, charts, diagrams, and paintings are all utilized. Line drawings of the various species are simplified to highlight essential features, and these are clearly labelled. Numerous black-and-white photos show species in a natural setting or illustrate a point about habitat, reproduction, etc.

Perhaps the highlight of the book is a section of full-colour scientific illustrations of all Nova Scotia’s reptiles and amphibians, taken from water-colour paintings by Fred Scott. Young naturalists and librarians faced with the creation of a book display will appreciate that these water-colours are also available from the publisher in the form of a wall poster.