by Mary Sayre Haverstock

Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 198 illustrations, including 73 plates in full color, 248 pages, $35.00

There are no anthropomorphic morals in this bestiary. It is simply a book of American animal paintings, often giving us glimpses of the artists’ most relaxed, intimate work. Ranging from the peaceable-kingdom to the howling wilderness views of the animal world, the images are as gentle as a kitten painted as a thank-you note or as ominous as circling buzzards. The paintings are splendidly reproduced in this enticing book.