Noteworthy Books Received by the Northeastern Naturalist, Issue 16/4, 2009 Basking with Humpbacks: Tracking Threatened Marine Life in New England Waters. Todd McLeish. 2009. University Press of New England, Lebanon, NH. 214 pp. $26.95, hardcover. ISBN 9781584656760. McLeish joined field biologists studying some of the rarest marine plants and animals living in New England including the Humpback Whale, Atlantic Halibut, Harbor Porpoise, American Horseshoe Crab, Leach’s Storm Petrel, seaweeds, Leatherback Turtle, Bay Scallop, Atlantic Wolffish, Harlequin Duck, and Basking Shark. This book summarizes his experiences along with interviews with other experts who explain the important role of these species in the marine ecosystem. I found the book entertaining and full of information on the life history and challenges faced by a wide range of marine wildlife. Venomous Animals of the World. Steve Backshall. 2007. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. 160 pp. $35, hardcover. ISBN 9780801888335. Venomous creatures such as snakes and spiders are the stuff of human nightmares. Yet toxins are a regular part of the animal world, an essential tool for hunting and defense. A surprising variety of insects, reptiles, and amphibians use venom in their daily lives, either to subdue their prey or to prevent falling victim to another predator. Precisely how many forms of wildlife are venomous is only now becoming clear. From the mighty King Cobra, which can reach over five meters in length, down to the diminutive but lethal Black Widow Spider, natural history expert Steve Backshall takes a fascinating look at more than 60 of the most venomous creatures across the world's continents. Exciting accounts of Backshall’s personal encounters with some of nature’s most dangerous animals help bring to life the world of natural venoms. He explains how different types of toxins work and highlights how some are used in medicine, including in the treatment of chronic disease in humans. A final chapter looks at the future for venomous wildlife and at why conservation measures are urgently required to ensure its continued survival. 200 color photographs accompany the text. Forest Ecosystems. 2nd Edition. David A. Perry, Ram Oren, and Stephen C. Hart. 2008. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. 606 pp. $85, hardcover. ISBN 9780801888403. This acclaimed textbook is the most comprehensive available in the field of forest ecology. Designed for advanced students of forest science, ecology, and environmental studies, it is also an essential reference for forest ecologists, foresters, and land managers. The authors provide an inclusive survey of boreal, temperate, and tropical forests with an emphasis on ecological concepts across scales that range from global to landscape to microscopic. Situating forests in the context of larger landscapes, they reveal the complex patterns and processes observed in tree-dominated habitats. The updated and expanded second edition covers: conservation, ecosystem services, climate change, vegetation classification, disturbance, species interactions, self-thinning, genetics, soil influences, productivity, biogeochemical cycling, mineralization, effects of herbivory, and ecosystem stability. The Northeastern Naturalist welcomes submissions of review copies of books that publishers or authors would like to recommend to the journal’s readership and are relevant to the journal’s mission of publishing information about the natural history of the northeastern US. Accompanying short, descriptive summaries of the text are also welcome.