The Life of Vertebrates

This is probably the only textbook I have ever had that is so well written that I read it for pleasure. Further, it contains an immense wealth of material in a comparatively small compass. The title is misleading. The book covers the classification, morphology, anatomy and reproduction of vertebrates and actually does not have much to say about their mode of day to day life. The author was one of the World's leading experts on vertebrate anatomy, who was active nearly until his death in 1997 aged 90. Make sure you get the 3rd (1981) edition.