Since publication of the First Edition in 1952, this guide has been recognized by zoologists and laymen alike as the best of its kind, and acquired by over a quarter of a million wildlife enthusiasts. This Third Edition, now offered in unabridged paperback form, brings up to date the information that has made this Field Guide the ideal book for North American mammal identification; there are now descriptions of 380 species, with common and scientific names and concise, detailed information on size, weight, color, habitat, and similar species within the animal's range. The 24 color plates capture the superb artistry of the original paintings, and maps show the present range of nearly every land species. Descriptions of whales and dolphins have been greatly expanded. This edition also gives metric equivalents for all measurements, a new feature that will be increasingly valuable to both amateurs and professionals. As Roger Tory Peterson, whose identification system organizes text and illustrations for quick-species recognition, says of this and earlier editions, "When you start out on a camping trip take this book with you... it is a field guide intended to be used."
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