THE ARCHITECTURE OF ANIMALS: THE EQUINOX GUIDE TO WILDLIFE STRUCTURES Adrian Forsyth Camden East (Ont.), Camden House Publishing, 1989.72pp, paper, 1SBN0-920656-16-1 (cloth) $15.95, 0-920656-08-0 (paper) $9.95 Distributed by Firefly Books. CIP Grades 7 to 9/Ages 12 to 14 Reviewed by Fred Leicester. Volume 18 Number 1 1990 January One does not usually think of animals as being architects, but in Equi­nox magazine's third in a series of science books for children naturalist Adrian Forsyth explores the wide range of structures built by animals. He also shows how animals have developed solutions - insulation, solar heat, venti­lation, drainage, and waterproofing - to the problems faced by human builders. From beaver dams to beehives, mole tunnels to stickleback nests, the author tells us how and why animals build their different structures. We explore the living architecture of the mollusk's shell and the labyrinthine chambers of the carpenter ant; we learn that the silk of an orb-weaving spider can have a diameter of just one-millionth of an inch and yet be strong enough to catch its prey. Spider silk, along with lichens, is also used in the construction of 4-cm-wide hummingbird nests. Chimney swifts use saliva to cement their nests in place, while bald eagles must select trees strong enough to support a nest that could weigh as much as two tons. Although the focus of this book is on animal structures there is also a wealth of information on the natural history of the animals described. The lively, informative text is supplemented throughout by at least one crisp full-colour photograph per page. Although aimed at beginning naturalists, this book will be a rewarding read for any­body interested in the environment. Recommended for school libraries. Fred Leicester, Golden School District, Golden, B.C.