David Barrie, not to be confused with humorist Dave Barry, explains the science behind the abilities of different living creatures to navigate their surroundings. Many people know about the "dance" performed by bees to share directions to food sources or new hives. But how do animals know which way to go when they migrate? How do fish and sea mammals find their way in the depths of the ocean? How do the swallows return to Capistrano on schedule and Arctic Terns make their way from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back again? It can't all be visual because their travel continues even in storms, fog, and the dark of night. Scientists around the world have studied this question and have proved or come near to proving that most use a variety of inborn methods including auditory, optical, and olfactory senses as well as the ability to detect the magnetism of the earth itself. This book examines the science behind all this and proposes even more questions about the mysterious abilities in the animal kingdom.
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