Carnivorous Nights: On the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger.

CARNIVOROUS NIGHTS: On the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger

MARGARET MITTELBACH AND MICHAEL CREWDSON

Snakes, venomous insects, and road kill all play parts in this spirited narrative of the authors' hunt for the presumed-extinct thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger. After developing a fascination with the visage of a stuffed specimen in the American Museum of Natural History, nature writers Mittelbach and Crewdson set off to Tasmania with quirky artist Alexis Rockman and other friends in tow. Their mission was to catch a glimpse of the fabled animal, although it was declared extinct in the early 1900s. Occasionally, Tasmanians report possible sightings of a thylacine lurking in the wilderness. Encouraged by these reports, the authors braved backcountry areas populated by deadly snakes, Tasmanian devils, and other unsavory creatures. Along the way, Mittelbach, Crewdson, and company commune with wildlife experts and revel in Tasmania's rich ecological diversity, including such unfamiliar animals as the potoroo, the pademelon, and the quoll. Despite numerous detours and dead ends, the team is relentless in its pursuit. This book is at once a detailed nature guide and a humorous and engaging adventure story. Villard, 2005, 336 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $24.95.