This could have been a better book, in my opinion. The reference sections are very well done, but the rest of the book is lacking in insightful content. Still, it wasn't bad, just incomplete as far as I felt. ( )

I have occasionally used this book as a resource, but mostly I find Conway's unwillingness to provide clear resources for her research, and her sometimes blatant historical, cultural, or animal behavioural incongruities to be a reflection of information that is - at times - made up conveniently.

As far as 'animal dictionaries' go, however, you could do worse. ( )