Animals Far and Near/Gamini De S.G. Punchihewa. New Delhi,
Navrang, 2000, xvi, 167 p., plates, $33. ISBN 81-7013-153-X.
Animals Far and Near/Gamini De S.G. Punchihewa. New Delhi,
Navrang, 2000, xvi, 167 p., plates, $33. ISBN 81-7013-153-X.
Contents: Introduction. Foreword. Preface. 1. Cats - domesticated and wild. 2. Dogs from domesticated to wild. 3. Aristocrats of the animal race. 4. Elephant in antiquity and now. 5. The elephants of Handapangala by Hiran Jayewardene. 6. Elephant populations by Jayantha Jayewardene. 7. Monkeys - a fascinating tribe - full of pranks. 8. The Buffalo and its origin. 9. From Porcupine to Mongoose and Otter. 10. The story of the Jackal and its Nari-Combe (horn). 11. Wild boar. 12. From sloth bear to scaly ant eater. 13. Sea-mammals - could Dugons have led to the myth of Mermaids. 14. Dolphins - sailor's best friend. 15. Whales - the helpless giants exploited by man. 16. Why do Whales come Ashore. 17. Turtles are an endangered species. 18. From tortoises to Iguana. 19. From the crocodiles to water monitors. 20. Serpents-poisonous to non-poisonous. 21. Camouflage in nature. 22. Speed fiends of the Jungle. Bibliography. Index.
"'Animals Far and Near' is not written in the style of a text book on animals but in a characteristic style where he had painstakingly sought and compiled the valuable material evolving around there fascinating and hoary legends connected with them. It is always a pleasure to hear those legends and folk - lore from the old folks and jungle people around whom Gamini had lived and worked. Then to put those interesting legends woven into many fabrics into a book, is indeed an unique contribution. Then he goes another step beyond what is not expected of the expectations of a writer, as he sees more to its, by compiling and presenting profiles reflecting to global distribution as to their general behaviour of related species and those species indigenous to Sri Lanka. These anecdotes described about our own animals and some of those species found in other foreign countries are indeed novel contributions to know particularly of those wild beasts outside our own country. It is no doubt a priceless monograph for the old and young and also for the lovers of nature, as well as the general reading public.
It has added lusture and glamour by the illustrations of the fine photos on wild life clicked ambidexterously by the well known international photographer of repute, Nihal Fernando of Studio Times." (jacket)