BIRDS, MAMMALS and OTHER ANIMALS

Exciting pictures & detailed, specialized in-
formation on a wide variety of species and
their adaptations. Coverage includes birds,
primates,endangered, exotics,scavengers,
marine, nocturnal,aggression, learning,etc.

NATIVE MAMMALS OF NORTH AMERICA
An in-depth look at familiar and not so familiar native mammals, both large and small, commonplace and rarely seen in the wild. 4 programs. 80 slides and rich guides.
EP #475X SLIDES
$129.95

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SAVE OVER $40.00 ON 4 SLIDE SET BUNDLE ORDER EP #475X......$129.95
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THE MOUNTAIN GOAT AND ITS WORLD Order #475.........$42.50

A close look at this rarely encountered North American animal--life history,
social organization, behavior, population dynamics, decimating factors, and its future.
20 slides and guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 22860 The mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) belongs to the
order Artiodactyla (even toed ungulates); the family Bouidae (bison, cattle, sheep, true goats and
musk-ox); the subfamily Caprinae; the tribe Rupicaprinae; and the genus Oreamnos.

Although commonly referred to as a goat, it is actually more closely related to the true
antelope. It does not have and never had any near relatives in North America. Its nearest
relatives are the mountain-dwelling antelope of the Old World, the only other living genera
included in the Rupricaprinae tribe. These include the chamois (Rupricapra rupricapra) found in
the Spanish Sierras and Pyrenees, the Alps and the Carpathians; the goral (Naemorhedus spp.)
found in the Himalayas and parts of China and Amurland; the golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor)
found in Tibet; and the serow (Capricornis spp.) found mainly in the Himalayas, Tibet and China.

There is a large and most likely permanent gap in knowledge concerning the evolution of
the mountain goat, largely because few fossil genera have been found. The poor preservation of
the fossil record is probably due to the nature of the mountainous terrain in which it evolved.

Fossils of the genus Oreamnos from the Pleistocene Epoch have been found in Wash-
ington and California, evidence that their range was little wider then than now. It is believed
that Oreamnos evolved in Eurasia and crossed the Bering Strait land bridge to Alaska during the
early Pleistocene, while the great ice sheets were forming Later, as the climate cooled further,
the mountain goat moved ahead of the advancing ice sheets, through Canada and into its present
range.

REVIEWS: “...fine set on the ecology of North American mammals.... The information is
excellent...” Booklist.
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THE BISON AND THE PRAIRIE Order #472..........$42.50

A look at the history of the American bison on the Great Plains since the days
of the Plains Indians. Covers its life history, origin of the prairie, prairie ecology and
other prairie animals. In addition to bison, photographs include prairie grasses, prairie
birds and such mammals as pronghorn, and prairie dog. 20 slides and guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 21387 It was the bison that established the special character of
the American grasslands. It is the largest land mammal in North America and was certainly the
most numerous. A full grown bison bull weighs between 625 and 1,100 kg (1,400 and 2,400 lbs.)
and reaches a height of 2 m (6.5 ft.) at the shoulder and a length of 3.5 m (11.5 ft.). The cow is
smaller, weighing from 340 to 550 kg (750 to 1,200 lbs.), reaching a height of 1.7 m (5.5 ft.) at the
shoulder and measuring less than 3 m (10 ft.) in length. She has a smaller hump and her horns
are finer.

The size of the male is also accentuated by the shaggier hair on the forelegs, throat,
chin, crown and forehead, the sizes of which are considered to be dominance indicators. In a
prime male, the longest masses of hair, those between the horns and on the forehead, can grow
to a length of 55 cm (22 in.). These long hairs must also serve effectively to cushion the jarring
impacts when two fighting bulls butt heads. The forepart of the body is covered by the longest
and darkest hair. Shorter and lighter brown hair covers the posterior two thirds of the body.
Towards spring the hair becomes lighter as it is bleached by the sun. During the annual spring
molt the animals look very ragged, for the hair sloughs off in clumps.

REVIEWS: “...beautiful photographs of the buffalo and its natural surroundings...” J.H.,
National Buffalo Assn.
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NORTH AMERICAN MAMMALS Order #416..........$42.50

Life stories of our native mammals: gray squirrel, prairie dog, woodchuck,
porcupine, opossum, deer, caribou, antelope, wapiti, bison, skunk, wolverine, raccoon,
coatimundi, timber wolf, lynx, bobcat, mountain lion, black bear and Kodiak bear. 20
slides and guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 12860 This is the typical view when one encounters this slow
moving, dim-witted rodent on the ground--rear end on with quills erect. This is the North American
porcupine’s defensive posture which it assumes whenever danger threatens. It is extremely
effective because any enemy that attacks must brave the forest of needle-sharp quills he
presents. These quills are modified hair: hollow, stiff and barbed like miniature harpoons. They
easily penetrate the hide of animals and then come loose from the porcupine to remain in the
victim, working deeper into its body, perhaps finally reaching a vital organ or producing a fatal
infection. Quills are difficult to remove and must be jerked out with a pair of pliers. Popular myth
to the contrary, porcupines cannot throw their quills.

Because porcupines feed on bark, twigs and buds they sometimes kill valuable trees.
For this reason foresters go to great lengths to kill them whenever possible. The damage they do
trees is greatly exaggerated, however. In fact, by killing an occasional tree they probably benefit
the whole stand by thinning it and allowing more growing space for the remaining trees.

Porcupines are extremely fond of salt and will chew up anything to get it, as many
campers have discovered to their dismay. Ax handles, paddles, fishing rods or anything else
impregnated with salt from perspiration will be chewed to splinters. One author reports a glass
bottle chewed part way through for a trace of salt. Another had a pair of rubber swim fins gnawed
badly by a porcupine on his nocturnal rounds.

Of all mammals, the porcupine gives birth to the largest babies in proportion to the size
of the parent. If a human baby was in the same proportion to its parents, it would be 12 times
bigger than normal and would weigh about 84 lbs., instead of approximately 7 lbs.
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THE BEAVER'S WORLD Order #477..........$42.50

Follows these large rodents through such seasonal activities as tree felling, dam
and lodge construction and breeding. Examines such physical characteristics and
adaptations as teeth, tails, feet, lung capacity, food preferences, modes of com-
munication, sensory capabilities, and family structure. Reviews the environmental
impact of their tree cutting and dam building. 20 slides and guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 22031 Despite the obvious conservation benefits beaver provide, it
is only fair to acknowledge that as their numbers increased in the mid-1900's, so did the
complaints about their destructive activities. To this day their presence in an area is marked
by controversy--to many people this persistent rodent is a definite nuisance.

Because they reproduce prolifically, beavers are constantly searching out new territories
in which to build dams and create swamps, bringing them into direct conflict with man. In many
areas their dam building activities have repeatedly flooded valuable agricultural crops (top),
highways, railroads, bridges, septic systems and valuable forest areas. Their dams have also
blocked the routes of migrating fish and their need to stop water from flowing has motivated them
to plug many a culvert pipe.

Not only do beavers cause flooding, but their need to constantly gnaw on wood has led
to the destruction of wooden bridges, forest and fruit tree plantations and an occasional
ornamental planting. The beaver in the bottom portion of this slide actually occupied a
boathouse and started building a lodge, after gnawing on the wood partitions and floor. Regular
interruptions in its daytime siestas eventually persuaded it to locate elsewhere.

REVIEWS: “...fine set.... Superior slides are augmented by a text that can be used
in the middle grades as well as in high school...good resources in schools and public libraries.”
Booklist.
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~0070-101~ North American mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus). photo by Tom Ulrich.

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