Mammals of Ontario

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

These two latest volumes in the outstanding Lone Pine Ontario nature
series are written by experienced naturalists. Like the other books in
the series, including Birds of Ontario, Animal Tracks of Ontario, and
Mushrooms of Ontario, they are extremely user-friendly, which makes them
an invaluable resource for budding naturalists.

In Mammals of Ontario, all basic mammal families are represented in
realistic illustrations on the back cover and then the starting page of
the relevant chapter is listed beside the illustration. Thus, if
something large and brown with antlers crosses a reader’s path, that
person can glance down at the back cover and then turn to page 25 to
start the deer chapter. Within the chapter, large color photos of each
member of the deer family allow the reader to make a quick
identification of the animal. The text includes a description of the
animal, its habitat, preferred food, and mating habits. Illustrations of
hoof/paw prints and a map of the creature’s normal range are included.


Along with scientific information, these books often mix in a bit of
fascinating folklore to spice up the text. For example, in the chapter
on hares and rabbits, the author explains the subtle differences between
rabbits and rodents, the even more subtle differences between rabbits
and hares, and finally the origin of the Germanic legend that is the
foundation for the custom of celebrating Easter with an imaginary bunny
that lays eggs.

In a similar manner, the back cover of the wildflower book is broken
into five basic flower groups. Each group is described both by text and
by a representative flower. For example, the reader who comes across a
patch of “Tiny Stalkless Flowers in Compact Clusters” is directed to
page 81. As usual, the text is a perfect mix of fact spiked with
relevant folklore. The flower names alone make this book a delightful
read. Imagine how impressed your friends will be when you are able to
toss out with authority names like Nodding Plumeless-Thistle,
Butter-and-Eggs, Starry False Solomon’s-Seal, and Hairy Cats-Ear.

The books’ small size is such that they will fit easily into any
backpack or large pocket. A glossary and two indexes (one for common
names, the other for scientific names) are included at the back of each
book. If you are curious about Ontario wildlife and vegetation, this
entire series should be on your shopping list.