The Amateur Naturalist (and Exotic Petkeeper) #7

For 100 years, from the mid-19th Century, natural history was the premier British hobby. Over the last 50 years it has declined in popularity for a number of reasons, most notably that killing living creatures for a hobby is quite rightly no longer seen as ethical. With the technological advances of the 21st Century, however, everything has changed. With a digital camera one can have a butterfly collection for example, and with the advent of cheap air travel, places once only accessible by the Gerald Durrells of this world, can be visited by everybody. Suddenly, the amateur naturalist can come into his, or her, own, and there has never been a better time for people to get involved. Amateur naturalists across the world are carrying out valuable research, and participating in essential breeding programmes. If you are interested, this magazine is for you. Initially coming out four times a year, the magazine will feature authoritative articles on keeping herps and inverts, the more unusual fish, and even exotic mammals and birds. However, although we intend to be the definitive magazine for those who believe in the responsible keeping of exotic pets, we want to do more than that. Includes COSTA RICAN ADVENTURE:Central American Wildlife by David Loft FRUIT BEETLES WITH ATTITUDE: Captive Cetoniinae by Max Blake TALES FROM THE BUSH: In the Footsteps of Wallace by Stephen Backshall ADULT BABIES: Axolotls by Trevor Smith NOT QUITE JAWS: Freshwater `Sharks` by David Marshall FROM THE SOLOMON ISLANDS: The Jade Mantis by Graham Smith SNAKEHEADS: Channa chat by Max Blake A PRICKLY INDIAN: Bengal Spiny Stick Insect by Janice Holt ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS: Your first snake by Richard Freeman FREE RANGE NEPHILA: Orb spinner spiders at home by Ray Gabriel ZEBRA RODENTS: African striped mice by Oll Lewis IN DEPTH: Insect diets and the role of toxins in food plants by Curtis Lakin Plus: events, news, reviews, contacts, directory and much more