THE SNAKE TREE

Still more small matters by the author of Rain in the Woods and Other Small Matters (1964). Mr. Rounds has a noticing, neighborly eye for the small, unspectacular wild-life in and around his home and the attribute of being able to show a friendly concern for animals without using humanizing metaphors. He can also demonstrate just the right amount of dispassionate interest in the inevitable brutalities of nature (for instance, one of his subjects is the butcher bird). This book tends more to direct anecdotes than to the shareable observations of Rain in the Woods--a less stimulating approach, but one that still conveys enthusiasm and moral support for the do it yourself animal behaviorist.