Sidney Dillon Ripley (1913–2001)

Mr. Dillon Ripley shares his experiences in raising waterfowl, from his first small pond as a teenager, to his collections of rare and unusual birds from around the world and his various travels to see them. I found this book among some other waterfowl books that belonged to my dad and, lacking something else to read at the moment, thought it might be mildly interesting for a day or two. It turned out to be a pleasant and surprisingly charming book. Written about 50 years ago, he relates the show more various troubles he had with raising ducks, from dealing with predators like weasels, mink, snapping turtles, and owls, to disasters such as floods and hurricanes. It was kind of fun to read about the trips he took with a friend while still in school to gather eggs from Eiders, or the visits he made to various duck collectors (some quite eccentric) while living in India and Sri Lanka during WWII. It reminded me of going with my dad as a kid to help "feed the ducks" that he and his brother raised just outside of town, and the countless times my friends and I would ride our bikes out there. I remember my dad and uncle having similar problems with weasels and magpies, or even stray dogs or troublesome teenagers. Most of all it reminded me of sitting with my dad and uncle while drinking the tall glass bottles of Coke my uncle would offer us while they sat and watched their ponds and discussed various things, and I could relate to Mr. Ripley's joy's of having a pond full of ducks. I don't know that this book would have much appeal to someone who doesn't know the difference between a wood duck and a mallard, but I found it to be pleasantly entertaining. show less

Memoir by naruralist Dillon Ripley, of travel aboard the 59 ft schooner 'Chiva', from Philadelphia to Dutch New Guinea, in the period just before WW II. The author is collecting birds, both live and to be stuffed, while others are carrying out anthropological research and taking photographs. The places they visit and the people they meet, both the indigenous population and representatives of the local administration make up the bulk of the interest.

Indeholder "Introduktion", "1. Den sydøstasiatiske region", "2. Når regnen kommer", "3. I den store skov", "4. De sumpede kyster", "5. Fra ø til ø", "6. Myriader af insekter", "7. Pythoner, næsehorn og andre", "8. Menneskeinvasionen", "Oversigtskort", "Billedregister", "Register".

Forældet bog med mange sort-hvide og farve-illustrationer af Tropisk Asiens dyre- og planteliv. Brahmaputra, Ganges, Irrawaddy, Salween og Mekong floderne. Skove, bjerge, regn og tørke. Kandebærer-planter, show more frøer, mangrovesumpe, fruesko, orangutaner, sommerfugle, edderkopper, tigre, elefanter, næsehorn og mennesker.

Pæn bog for sin tid, men forældet på mange måder show less