National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells

Book is Great! Perfect to take with you anywhere on any coast of North America if you are hunting for seashells. Nice and small size. Compact. Very thick book packed with so many seashells all found throughout North America. Full color, crisp and clear photographs with accompanying information for each and every shell. I would strongly advise to take this guide along with you when you go shelling. It is very helpful. It is a field guide that shows you clearly what you are looking for, where to find it, or what you have found. It explains everything-how deep in the water, where on the beach,and how large it grows. Just a perfect guide. The best guide there is I think.

I like to photograph beach objects and was looking for a book to identify them. This is an excellent source. It is well organized and the photographs are excellent.

This book does an unusually fine job of including lots of info without becoming too bulky and cumbersome to carry in the field. Photos of the 700+ specimens measure a compact 3.5 X 2 inches. Most show front and back of the shell, a big help since they differ so much. Sometimes if a species varies a lot there are multiple specimens. Write-ups of species are on much thinner paper than the photos, helping to keep the book's size down. They include 1) detailed descriptions pointing out both variations and consistencies from one shell to another of that species, 2) a short note on habitat, 3) another on range 4) and sometimes added info that doesn't fit into those categories. I bought this book to identify three shells I saw in California. Two of them were in it. This is a great little book that I wouldn't want to be without.

The Audubon Guide to Seashells is one of the best known and most reliable field references. Whether beachcombing, snorkeling over a reef, or searching a tidepool, this guide will come in handy for all those locations. Many seashells are listed in this guide, coming out at more than 600 in all. The shells are a feast for the eyes, coming in all shapes, colors, and patterns. The best and most admirable family covered are the Limpets. From dull green to stunning black and white striped, this is the most detailed and beautiful family listed in the book. Cone snails are also covered very well. The main question here is: Why does the book have negative ratings? Flipping to the back for details may be tiresome for lazy readers. There is nothing unprofessional about the book in any way. It VERY professional and a good recommendation.