Here is a book that is both literate and alliterate: British Bee Books. A Bibliography 1500-1976, by Harding, Smith, Crane and Duruz, published by the International Bee Research Association in 1979. We will venture to say this is probably the best British bee book bibliography around, Sotheran's informing us it is "the authoritative work on this subject." We bee-lieve. Item 29. £78 (US $117).

Item 37 is an interesting work by John Muller: On the existence of Four Distinct Hearts, having regular pulsations, connected with the Lymphatic System, in certain Amphibious Animals. Is this true? It sounds like this would be way too complex to work, but I really have no idea. I'm a bit wary of science from 1833, but am not sure how you could imagine this stuff if it weren't true. £85 (US $128).

Sotheran's tells us this next book is a humorous work, but I think I could have figured that out from its title: Garden Clubs & Spades. Laurence McKinney's 1941 book uses prose and verse to poke fun at amateur horticulturalists, garden clubs and flower shows. Item 63. £30 (US $45).

Item 41 is a book about one of the more attractive creatures of the sea, those animals that look like flowers: Manual Of The Sea-Anemones. This is an easy to follow, conversational book describing these strange animals, written by Rev. George Tugwell and published in 1856. £160 (US $241).

Sotheran's may be reached at 020 7439 6151 or books@sotherans.co.uk. Their website is found at www.sotherans.co.uk.

You will find many of Sotheran's books listed in "Books For Sale" on this site. Click here.