This book made me feel a bit sad for artists who, like the artist here (Peter Marsack), are clearly tremendously talented but have few real outlets for their art. It's interesting to me that he was able to form such a fruitful collaboration with Ian Fraser who wrote the text. And, I must admit, that Fraser really adds value to the publication: it's just not pretty pictures of wildlife and the plants around the ACT. I was impressed by the detail on the swamp owl for example and the knowledge that inland, one of the species of river oak, (or Casuarina) is known as Buloke (and my father in law impressed me with the knowledge that these were very hard to burn when dead and dry but burnt to ashes when set fire just after felling......he had learned this from Italian farmers). Some lovely illustrations and I just wonder what sort of collection Marsack has accumulated: is this just a selection? I was going to donate this to charity but I've become so intrigued re-reading it that I'll hang on to it longer and re-read it in more detail. I might even pass it on to one of my children who would be interested in this interesting style of "nature writing". I can learn a lot from it. Also interesting to note that myth old uni friend and later work-colleague Ted Edwards gets a mention as the authority on moths and butterflies for the book. Five stars from me. ( )