Curious Creatures in Zoology is an examination of the world's most interesting creatures, both real and fantastical and is the work of author John Ashton.
The book opens with a brief introduction in which the author lays out his purpose for writing the book and the methodology used in doing so. This is not a work of science, but rather a collection of accounts of the world's most curious creatures as they have appeared in writings by various authors throughout history. The opening chapters of the book examine humans and human-like creatures, including early men, wild men, and so-called "hairy men". The author also includes sections on giants and pygmies. From there, Ashton transitions to more mythical creatures, including centaurs, unicorns, and lamias. Throughout the book, which includes sections on more than 100 creatures, the author sprinkles in descriptions of real animals, including dolphins, scorpions, ants, whales, hornets, to name but a few, however more space is definitely devoted to the more fantastical creatures however.
While John Ashton is listed as the author of Curious Creatures in Zoology, much of the writing in this collection is actually done by other authors and are included in Ashton's book as quotations. The subject matter is treated with an air of seriousness, which may seem perplexing for the modern reader but is a clear indicator of the time period in which this book was written. The entries themselves are all quite interesting, and will appeal to anybody interested in mythological creatures. The book is also an excellent case study into man's understanding of the world around him, and the developments we have made in our knowledge of the animal kingdom.
Curious Creatures in Zoology is an entertaining read, perhaps even more so for the serious treatment it provides to what are now commonly known to be fictional creatures. Ashton's book is recommended to anybody curious about the animal kingdom, both real and fantastic.
