Watchers at the Pond (2)

Franklin Russell. New York: Time Incorporated. 1961.

Why read it? Describes the changes in the pond during the cycle of the seasons.

Sample quotes and ideas:

“The differences between plant and animal among this microlife were incomprehensible and contradictory and seemed to indicate only one fact: the origins of this life went back to a creature that was neither plant or animal.” p. 85.

“The red-tailed hawk: His scream in the hot sky gripped the senses, and the vertical fall of his body terrified the forest.” p. 87.

“The hunters could easily misjudge the dynamic instinct to live of their defenseless prey.” p. 95.

“All pond creatures had particular enemies who perpetually haunted their lives.” p. 103.

“In an hour, one bladderwort caught five hundred thousand creatures.” p. 111.

“The worm gulped down the rotifer, and the frog swallowed the worm; the kingfisher killed the frog, and the hunt passed endlessly from creature to creature.” p. 114.

“In death there was life.” p. 116.

“The bat calls bounced off all flying insects and the reflected sounds informed the bats of distance, directions and speeds.” p. 156.

“The bats’ crazy zigzagging flight branched from mosquito to moth in blind destruction of flying life.” p. 156.

“The bats lived in an almost completely dark world of echo.” p. 156.

To be continued.