Salem Press

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	With its unique coverage of animal life as a whole, Magill's Encyclopedia of Science: Animal Life is recommended for libraries that serve high school and undergraduate students.
Reference & User Services Quarterly

	Recommended for large public libraries or academic libraries seeking to augment undergraduate level biology reference collections.
Choice

	The articles, plus their supporting bibliographies, will allow upper level students to pursue research of a particular species further than is possible with many of the other animal encyclopedias.
Lawrence Looks at Books Reference Reviews Gale Group

	The strength of the Magill's set is its comprehensive coverage of animal life science generally, not just individual animals. Certainly a worthwhile purchase for libaries needing this type of reference.
Library Journal

Magill's Encyclopedia of Science:
Animal Life

Ideal for high school, undergraduate, and general readers, this 4-volume set offers accessible, easy-to-understand scientific information on a subject that is of significant popular and academic interest.

Entries ranging from 1,000-3,000 words, focus on nonhumans from the Animal Kingdom, from insects to reptiles to mammals. Early humans are addressed in an evolutionary context, and modern humans are included only for interspecies comparison or for their efforts to coexist with other species. Species overviews, at 1,000-2,000 words, discuss notable anatomy and physiology, habitat, behavior and reproduction and include a sidebar listing classification, geographical location, life span, and special anatomy.

All entries begin with ready-reference information about the type of animal science and fields of study and feature a list of principal terms, with brief definitions. Numerous subheads guide the reader through the main text of the entry. Every essay ends with an annotated bibliography.

Issue oriented discussions (animal rights, habitat destruction, poaching) and biographical entries (John James Audubon, Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall) appear as 500-word sidebars within main entries. In addition, longer entries provide one or more brief sidebars highlighting interesting subjects relating to the text.