The outer lands : a natural history guide to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island, and Long Island

Experience the unique ecology of the Outer Lands in this reissued classic“An extraordinary achievement in natural history and science. But it’s so artfully written you forget it’s a scientific treatise and find yourself reading it with sheer pleasure.” ― Provincetown AdvocateDorothy Sterling explores the fascinating plants and animals that inhabit the peninsulas and islands of the East Coast known as the Outer Lands. With vibrant original drawings by Winifred Lubell and a new foreword by natural historian Robert Finch, The Outer Lands is a lively, lovingly observed biography of place. "An extraordinary achievement in natural history and science. But it's so artfully written you forget it's a scientific treatise and find yourself reading it with sheer pleasure." - Provincetown Advocate. Dorothy Sterling explores the fascinating plants and animals that inhabit the peninsulas and islands of the East Coast known as the Outer Lands. With vibrant original drawings by Winifred Lubell and a new foreword by natural historian Robert Finch, The Outer Lands is a lively, lovingly observed biography of place Did you know that horseshoe crabs have been around for 200 million years? That mussels "spin" long anchor lines and climb steep slopes with them? Do you know what a "Beetlebung" tree is?This is all part of Dorothy Sterling's fascinating description of The Outer Lands , and the plants and animals that inhabit this peninsula and chain of islands along our New England coast. Foreword : a second look at Dorothy Sterling's The outer lands -- Preface -- Birth of the outer lands -- The ocean beach -- Bays and sounds. The flats -- Oyster beds -- The eelgrass jungle -- Rocky shores -- Wharfs and breakwaters -- Shallow water -- Birds -- Plants of the beach -- The marshes -- The dunes -- Ponds and bogs -- Appendix. Checklist of scientific names. The glacier grew from year to year.