A handy pocket-sized guide to 220 of the world's spiders Gem Spiders is the perfect introduction to these 'creepy-crawlies' There are Approx. 35 000 known species of spider in the world but it is estimated that the true number in existence could be nearer 70 000. They occur everwhere naturally & because of their sharp bite & venom they are one of the most successful groups of animal. Each entry
Includes:: * A photograph of the spider & details of any distinguishing features which may help identification * Information on size web habitat distribution range & the times of the year when it is most likely to be spotted * An icon shows the potency of each spider's venom Each species is sorted by family & illustrated with a symbol enabling you to quickly find what you are looking for. There is a detailed introduction which covers aspects of spiders' natural history their relatives anatomy the production & uses of silk. From the Goliath Tarantula to the patu digua this photographic guide is the perfect introduction for those who want to learn about these fascinating creatures.
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Spiders are the most successful terrestrial predators on earth & we are privileged to share the planet with at least 40 000 species of these remarkable animals. From mountaintops to seashores & from ponds to deserts spiders are all around us. Their success lies in the astonishing array of techniques that have evolved to allow them to catch their prey; many are based on the spiders secret weapon silk including the familiar orb-webs. However not all spiders sit & wait for prey to come to them; there are spiders that lassoo insects others specialise in stealing from other spiders & some spit sticky silk over their prey. There are fishing spiders jumping spiders & spiders that pretend to be ants; some even draw prey to their doom by mimicking moth pheromones. Stephen Daltons detailed photographs unswervingly superb & beautiful chronicle the diversity of the spider world. Chapters are divided along broad ecological themes with each focusing on different species their habitats hunting techniques ecology & behaviour. Also featured are chapters on spider anatomy & a guide to photographing them. ...

Spiders are the most obvious group of animals
- they share with us our houses & gardens. They also have some of the most fascinating
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When the Grace children moved into the old abandoned Spiderwick Mansion little did they realise that their lives would never be the same again. Having uncovered a fantastical world of sprites faeries & goblins there's no turning back. The Ultimate Spiderwick Chronicles features all five of the original books plus great new bonus content! Discover the three 'lost' chapters that were included in the Nestle Cereal Partners cereal boxes & the special 'development' section showing sketches & early drafts. Readers both old & new young & old will be completely immersed in the world of Spiderwick with this Ultimate collection. ...

This retrospective celebrates some forty years of Steven Spielbergs boundless energy & his unwavering commitment to excellence in all areas of his work. The distinguished writer & critic Richard Schickel himself a documentary filmmaker applies his unique knowledge of every one of Spielbergs 27 major films to appraise the directors remarkably prolific & varied career. Featuring many first-person observations drawn from Schickels interviews with Spielberg as well as a personal foreword by the director himself this book presents an insiders perspective on Spielbergs legendary achievements. Impeccably designed & illustrated with over 400 superb images (including revealing behind-the-scenes photos from Dream Works own archives) Spielberg: A Retrospective" is the ultimate tribute to a moviemaking icon & a book to treasure." ...

It's wartime Britain & Stephen's friend Keith makes the momentous announcement that his mother is a German spy. Determined to find the truth the two boys begin to spy on the 'spy'. The boys discover that Keith's mother does have secrets to hide but they are not the ones they had suspected. Ideal for critical analysis of a substantial piece of prose; vocabulary narrative technique rhetorical devices & moral depth. Whitbread / Costa Book Award winning title. ...

In the immediate aftermath of the Revolution the Western powers were anxious to prevent the spread of Bolshevism across Europe. Lenin & Trotsky were equally anxious that the Communist vision they were busy introducing in Russia should do just that. But neither side knew anything about the other. The revolution & Russias withdrawal from the First World War had ensured a diplomatic exodus from Moscow & the usual routes to vital information had been closed off. Into this void stepped an extraordinary collection of opportunists journalists & spies -- sometimes indeed journalists who were spies & vice versa: in Moscow Britains Arthur Ransome the American John Reed & Sidney Reilly -- Ace of Spies -- all traded information & brokered deals between Russia & the West; in Berlin Paris & London the likes of Maxim Litvinov Adolf Ioffe & Kamenev tried to infiltrate the political elite & influence foreign policy to the Bolsheviks advantage. Robert Service acclaimed historian & one of our finest commentators on matters Soviet turns his meticulous eye to this ragtag group of people & with narrative flair & impeccable research reveals one of the great untold stories of the twentieth century. ...

SPIES IN THE SKY is the thrilling little-known story of the partner organisation to the famous code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park. It is the story of the daring reconnaissance pilots who took aerial photographs over Occupied Europe during the most dangerous days of the Second World War & of the photo interpreters who invented a completely new science to analyse those pictures. They were inventive & ingenious; they pioneered the development of 3D photography & their work provided vital intelligence throughout the war. With a whole host of colourful characters at its heart from the legendary pilot Adrian Warby Warburton who went missing while on a mission to photo interpreters Glyn Daniel later a famous television personality & Winston Churchills daughter Sarah SPIES IN THE SKY is compelling reading & the first full account of the story of aerial photography & the intelligence gleaned from it in nearly fifty years. ...

In Paul Dohertys new novel Amerotke Chief Judge of the Hall of Two Truths is once again summoned to the Imperial Palaceo: Tekreth Guardian of the Door of Sobeck has fallen to his death from the roof of his stately mansion. According to all evidence it was an accident but Pharaoh Queen Hatusu is not convinced. Increasingly worried about reports of mysterious disappearances along the Sobeck Road the imperial highway stretching south she believes that Tekreths death could be part of a far greater problem. Amerotke aware of the reports from the Sobeck Road has also heard rumours about the Shemai a cult devoted to death based along its borders. Before Amerotke can start to consider either of these matters though a gruesome mass murder occurs at the Necropolis. The funeral party for revered scribe Ptulimis has been poisoned & Amerotke must immediately investigate the abomination. As Amerotke probes further he suspects that all these events may be connected & that dangerous forces are at work in Pharaoh Hatusus realm. Will Amerotke be able to uncover the truth before Egypt is overrun by its sinister & dangerous underworld? ...

Salonika 1940. To the bustle of tavernas & the smell of hashish a secret war is taking shape. In the backrooms of barbers envelopes change hands & in the Club de Salonique the air is thick with whispers. Costa Zannis is the city's dashing chief detective
- a man with contacts high & low in the Balkans & beyond. & as unknown ships & British 'travel writers' trickle through the port he is a man very much in dem&. Having helped defeat Italy in the highlands of Macedonia Zannis returns to a city holding its breath. Mussolini's forces have retreated
- for now
- but German sights are fixed firmly on the region. & as the situation in Germany worsens Zannis becomes involved in an audacious plot
- smuggling Jews to Istanbul through the back door of Europe. The British hear he can penetrate the continent's closed borders & soon Zannis is embroiled in the resistance & in a reckless love affair that could jeopardise everything. With a remarkable cast of operatives SPIES OF THE BALKANS is a brilliant new espionage novel from Alan Furst.



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